Marriage

Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?

Trend in which gay marriage question preceded by questions on legality of gay/lesbian rights and relations

	Should be valid	Should not be valid	No opinion
	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	67	31	1
2019 May 1-12	63	36	1
2018 May 1-10	67	31	2
2017 May 3-7	64	34	2
2016 May 4-8	61	37	2
2015 Jul 8-12	58	40	2
2015 May 6-10	60	37	3
2014 May 8-11	55	42	3
2013 Jul 10-14	54	43	3
2013 May 2-7	53	45	3
2012 Nov 26-29	53	46	2
2012 May 3-6	50	48	2
2011 Dec 15-18	48	48	4
2011 May 5-8	53	45	3
2010 May 3-6	44	53	3
2009 May 7-10	40	57	3
2008 May 8-11 ^	40	56	4
2007 May 10-13	46	53	1
2006 May 8-11 ^	42	56	2
2005 Aug 22-25	37	59	4
2004 May 2-4	42	55	3
1999 Feb 8-9	35	62	3
1996 Mar 15-17	27	68	5
^ Asked of a half sample; 1996-2005 WORDING: "Do you think marriages between homosexuals ... "
Gallup

Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?

Trend in which gay marriage question NOT preceded by questions on legality of gay/lesbian rights and relations

	Should be valid	Should not be valid	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Apr 29-May 1	39	56	5
2005 Mar 18-20 ^	28	68	4
2004 Jul 19-21 ^	32	62	6
2004 Mar 5-7	33	61	6
2004 Feb 16-17	32	64	4
2004 Feb 6-8 ^	36	59	5
2003 Dec 15-16	31	65	4
2003 Oct 24-26	35	61	4
2003 Jun 27-29	39	55	6
2000 Jan 13-16	34	62	4
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about sex between an unmarried man and woman?

	Morally acceptable	Morally wrong	Depends (vol.)	Not a moral issue (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	72	27	1	*	1
2019 May 1-12	71	28	1	*	1
2018 May 1-10	69	28	1	*	1
2017 May 3-7	69	28	1	1	2
2016 May 4-8	67	30	1	1	1
2015 May 6-10	68	29	1	1	2
2014 May 8-11	66	31	1	1	1
2013 May 2-7	63	33	1	1	2
2012 May 3-6	59	38	1	1	2
2011 May 5-8	60	36	1	*	3
2010 May 3-6	59	38	1	1	1
2009 May 7-10	57	40	1	*	1
2008 May 8-11	61	36	1	1	1
2007 May 10-13	59	38	1	1	1
2006 May 8-11	59	37	2	1	1
2005 May 2-5	58	39	2	*	1
2004 May 2-4	60	36	1	1	2
2003 May 5-7	58	41	1	*	*
2002 May 6-9	53	42	2	*	3
2001 May 10-14	53	42	3	1	1
*Less than 0.5%; (vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about married men and women having an affair?

	Morally acceptable	Morally wrong	Depends (vol.)	Not a moral issue (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	9	89	1	*	1
2019 May 1-12	9	89	1	*	1
2018 May 1-10	10	88	1	--	1
2017 May 3-7	9	88	1	*	1
2016 May 4-8	10	88	1	*	1
2015 May 6-10	8	89	1	*	1
2014 May 8-11	7	91	1	*	1
2013 May 2-7	6	91	2	*	1
2012 May 3-6	7	89	2	*	2
2011 May 5-8	7	91	1	*	1
2010 May 3-6	6	92	1	*	1
2009 May 7-10	6	92	1	1	1
2008 May 8-11	7	91	1	*	1
2007 May 10-13	6	91	2	*	1
2006 May 8-11	4	93	2	*	1
2005 May 2-5	5	93	1	*	1
2004 May 2-4	7	91	1	*	1
2003 May 5-7	6	93	*	*	1
2002 May 6-9	9	87	1	1	2
2001 May 10-14	7	89	3	*	1
*Less than 0.5%; (vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about divorce?

	Morally acceptable	Morally wrong	Depends (vol.)	Not a moral issue (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	77	18	4	*	*
2019 May 1-12	77	20	2	*	*
2018 May 1-10	76	20	3	*	1
2017 May 3-7	73	20	6	1	*
2016 May 4-8	72	19	7	1	1
2015 May 6-10	71	20	7	*	1
2014 May 8-11	69	22	8	1	1
2013 May 2-7	68	24	6	1	1
2012 May 3-6	67	25	7	1	1
2011 May 5-8	69	23	7	*	1
2010 May 3-6	69	23	7	*	1
2009 May 7-10	62	30	6	*	1
2008 May 8-11	70	22	6	*	1
2007 May 10-13	65	26	8	*	1
2006 May 8-11	67	24	8	1	1
2005 May 2-5	66	27	6	*	1
2004 May 2-4	66	26	6	1	1
2003 May 5-7	66	27	6	*	1
2002 May 6-9	63	28	8	*	1
2001 May 10-14	59	28	12	*	1
*Less than 0.5%; (vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about having a baby outside of marriage?

	Morally acceptable	Morally wrong	Depends (vol.)	Not a moral issue (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	66	32	2	*	1
2019 May 1-12	64	34	1	*	1
2018 May 1-10	65	32	2	*	2
2017 May 3-7	62	33	3	1	1
2016 May 4-8	62	34	3	1	1
2015 May 6-10	61	35	2	1	1
2014 May 8-11	58	38	2	1	1
2013 May 2-7 ^	60	36	2	1	1
2012 May 3-6	54	42	2	*	1
2011 May 5-8	54	41	2	*	2
2010 May 3-6	54	40	4	*	2
2009 May 7-10	51	45	3	1	1
2008 May 8-11	55	41	2	*	1
2007 May 10-13	54	42	2	1	1
2006 May 8-11	51	43	4	*	1
2005 May 2-5	54	43	2	*	1
2004 May 2-4	49	45	3	1	2
2003 May 5-7	51	46	2	*	1
2002 May 6-9	45	50	3	1	1
2001 May 10-14	59	28	12	*	1
^ Asked of a half sample; *Less than 0.5%; (vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about polygamy, when a married person has more than one spouse at the same time?

	Morally acceptable	Morally wrong	Depends (vol.)	Not a moral issue (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	20	78	1	*	1
2019 May 1-12	18	80	1	*	1
2018 May 1-10	19	78	1	*	1
2017 May 3-7	17	80	1	1	1
2016 May 4-8	14	82	1	1	2
2015 May 6-10	16	81	1	1	1
2014 May 8-11	14	84	1	*	1
2013 May 2-7	14	83	1	1	1
2012 May 3-6	11	86	2	*	1
2011 May 5-8	11	86	1	*	1
2010 May 3-6 ^	7	90	1	*	1
2009 May 7-10 ^	7	91	1	1	1
2008 May 8-11 ^	8	90	1	*	1
2007 May 10-13 ^	8	90	1	*	*
2006 May 8-11 ^	5	93	1	*	2
2005 May 2-5 ^	6	92	1	*	1
2004 May 2-4 ^	7	91	1	*	1
2003 May 5-7 ^	7	92	1	--	*
^ WORDING: "..when one husband has more than one wife at the same time ; *Less than 0.5%; (vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

When a man and woman plan to spend the rest of their lives together as a couple, how important is it to you that they legally marry -- very important, somewhat important, not too important or not important at all?

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	38	26	15	21	*
2013 Jun 20-24	43	21	16	19	1
2006 Jun 8-25	54	19	13	12	1
Gallup

When an unmarried man and woman have a child together, how important is it to you that they legally marry -- very important, somewhat important, not too important or not important at all?

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	29	31	18	22	*
2013 Jun 20-24	38	26	15	20	1
2006 Jun 8-25	49	27	12	11	1
Gallup

Have you ever been married, or not?

	Yes, have	No, have not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	69	30	*
2013 Jun 20-24	72	27	*
2006 Jun 8-25	80	20	*
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Would you like to get married someday, or not?

Asked of those who have never been married

	Yes, would like to	No, would not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	81	19	*
2013 Jun 20-24	78	19	3
Gallup

Would you like to get married again someday, or not?

Asked of those who have are not currently married but have been married before

	Yes, would like to	No, would not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2020 May 1-13	39	59	2
2013 Jun 20-24	37	58	4
Gallup

What do you think is the ideal age for a WOMAN to get married?

	2020 May 1-13 ^	2006 May 5-7 ^
	%	%
Age 21 or under	18	20
Age 22-25	34	42
Age 26-29	18	16
Age 30 or older	23	12
No opinion	7	10
Mean	25.8	24.9
Median	25	25
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

What do you think is the ideal age for a MAN to get married?

	2020 May 1-13 ^	2006 May 5-7 ^
	%	%
Age 21 or under	14	11
Age 22-25	29	33
Age 26-29	15	20
Age 30 or older	38	30
No opinion	4	7
Mean	27.4	27.4
Median	27	26
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Do you approve or disapprove of marriage between blacks and whites?

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
	%	%	%
National adults
2013 Jun 13-Jul 5	87	11	2
2011 Aug 4-7	86	11	3
2007 Sep 7-8	79	15	6
2007 Jun 4-24	77	17	6
2004 Jun 9-30	76	19	5
2003 Nov 11-Dec 14	73	23	4
2002 Jun 3-9	65	29	6
1997 Jan 4-Feb 28	64	27	9
1994 Sep 18-20	48	37	15
1991 Jun 13-16	48	42	10
1983 Apr 29-May 2	43	50	7
1978 Jul 21-24 ^	36	54	10
1972 Oct 13-16 ^	29	60	11
1968 Jun 26-Jul 1 ^	20	73	8
1958 Sep 24-29 #	4	94	3
Whites
2013 Jun 13-Jul 5	84	13	2
2011 Aug 4-7	83	14	3
2007 Jun 4-24	75	20	6
2004 Jun 9-30	72	23	5
2003 Nov 11-Dec 14	70	27	3
2002 Jun 3-6	60	33	7
1997 Jan 4-Feb 28	61	30	9
1994 Sep 18-20	45	41	14
1991 Jun 13-16	44	45	11
1983 Apr 29-May 2	38	56	6
1978 Jul 21-24 ^	33	58	9
1972 Oct 13-16 ^	25	65	10
1968 Jun 26-Jul 1 ^	17	75	7
1958 Sep 24-29 #	4	94	3
Blacks
2013 Jun 13-Jul 5	96	3	1
2011 Aug 4-7	96	2	2
2007 Jun 4-24	85	10	4
2004 Jun 9-30	87	9	4
2003 Nov 11-Dec 14	80	16	4
2002 Jun 3-9	78	20	2
1997 Jan 4-Feb 28	77	16	7
1994 Sep 18-20	68	19	13
1991 Jun 13-16	70	19	11
1983 Apr 29-May 2	71	21	9
1978 Jul 21-24 ^	66	19	15
1972 Oct 13-16 ^	61	21	19
1968 Jun 26-Jul 1 ^	56	33	11
^ WORDING: "...marriage between whites and non-whites?"; # WORDING: "marriage between white and colored people?"
Gallup

There are many possible reasons why people who want to get married one day are not currently married. What would you say are some of the reasons you are not married at the present time? [OPEN-ENDED]

Asked of those who have never been married but would like to be married someday

	2013 Jun 20-24
	%
Haven't found the right person	31
Too young/Not ready	26
Money/Financial reasons	18
No time	7
Career considerations	6
Still in school	6
Gay/Gay marriage illegal in state	4
Don't trust people	4
Currently engaged/Getting married	2
Haven't been asked/Waiting	2
Other	8
No reason in particular	2
No opinion	3
Gallup

How many different times have you ever been married?

	Zero	One	Two	Three	Four or more	No opinion	Mean
	%	%	%	%	%	%
National adults
2013 Jun 20-24	27	53	14	4	1	1	1.0
2006 May 8-11	19	60	16	3	1	1	1.1
Ever married
2013 Jun 20-24	--	73	19	5	1	1	1.3
2006 May 8-11	--	75	18	4	1	--	1.3
Gallup

How many different times have you ever been divorced?

	Zero	One	Two	Three	Four or more	No opinion	Mean
	%	%	%	%	%	%
National adults
2013 Jun 20-24	75	16	6	2	*	*	0.3
2006 May 8-11	72	20	7	1	*	*	0.4
Ever married
2013 Jun 20-24	66	22	9	2	*	*	0.5
2006 May 8-11	66	24	9	1	*	*	0.5
Ever divorced
2013 Jun 20-24	--	67	26	6	1	--	1.4
2006 May 8-11	--	71	25	4	1	--	1.4
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Now, thinking back to when you were born, were your parents married, or were they not married at that time?

	Yes, were married	No, were not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2013 Jun 20-24	89	11	1
2006 Jun 8-25	92	8	*
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

When you were a child, were you raised by both of your parents in the same household, by both parents about equally but in different households, raised mainly by your mother, raised mainly by your father, or were you raised by someone else?

	2013 Jun 20-24	2006 Jun 8-25
	%	%
Both parents in same household	73	75
Raised mainly by mother	18	17
Both parents equally, different households	3	1
Raised mainly by father	2	2
Grandmother/Great grandmother	1	2
Grandparents	1	1
Someone else	2	1
No opinion	1	*
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Just your best guess, do you think that allowing two people of the same sex to legally marry will change our society for -- [ROTATED: the better, will it have no effect or will it change our society for the worse]?

	Better	No effect	Worse	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 May 7-10	13	36	48	2
2003 Sep 19-21	10	40	48	2
Gallup

Suppose an unmarried couple lives together with children in the household. Do you think that has a -- [ROTATED: positive effect on the children, does it not make a difference, (or does it have a) negative effect on the children]?

	Positive effect	No difference	Negative effect	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2008 Jul 25-27	12	47	38	3
Gallup

In general, do you think that an unmarried couple that has lived together for one year is just as committed in their relationship as a couple that has been married for one year, or not?

	Yes, just as committed	No, not as committed	No opinion
	%	%	%
2008 Jul 25-27 ^	42	53	5
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

In general, do you think that an unmarried couple that has lived together for five years is just as committed in their relationship as a couple that has been married for five years, or not?

	Yes, just as committed	No, not as committed	No opinion
	%	%	%
2008 Jul 25-27 ^	57	40	3
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Do you think couples that live together before marriage are more likely or less likely to get divorced than couples that do not live together before marriage?

	More likely	Less likely	No difference (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2008 Jul 25-27	31	49	13	7
2002 Jul 22-24	40	37	14	9
(vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Generally speaking, would you say you approve or disapprove of men and women living together without being married if they want to, or is that something you haven't formed an opinion on?

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Sep 7-8	55	27	18
Gallup

Have you ever been married, or not?

	Yes	No	No opinion
	%	%	%
National adults
2006 Jun 8-25	80	20	*
Non-Hispanic whites
2006 Jun 8-25	82	18	*
Blacks
2006 Jun 8-25	65	35	*
Hispanics
2006 Jun 8-25	72	28	*
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Using an A, B, C, D and F grading scale like they do in school, what grade would you give your marriage today?

Based on adults who are currently married

	A	B	C	D	F	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2006 May 8-11	65	27	6	1	--	*
2002 Jul 22-24	68	23	6	1	1	1
1996 Sep 3-5	59	29	10	1	*	1
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

How often do you and your (spouse/partner) disagree about money matters -- frequently, occasionally or rarely]?

Based on adults who are married or living with a partner

	Frequently	Occasionally	Rarely	Never (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2006 Mar 10-12	9	30	57	4	*
* Less than 0.5%; (vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Before you got married, how much did you and your spouse talk about combining your finances after you were married -- a lot, a little or not at all?

Based on adults who are married

	A lot	A little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2006 Mar 10-12	33	31	35	1
Gallup

During your lifetime, have you ever had a divorce?

	Yes, have	No, have not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2006 Mar 10-12	30	70	*
1985 Mar 18-31	23	77	--
* Less than 0.5%;
Gallup

Would you say disagreements over money were a major factor, a minor factor or not a factor at all in the decision to get a divorce?

Based on adults who have ever been divorced

	Major factor	Minor factor	Not a factor	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2006 Mar 10-12	18	17	62	3
Gallup

Did you and your [husband/wife] live together before you got married or not?

Based on adults who have are currently married

	Yes	No	No opinion
	%	%	%
2002 Jul 22-24	37	63	*
1996 Sep 3-5	31	69	*
1988 Dec 27-29	19	81	0
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Who made the marriage proposal in your family -- you or your [husband/wife]?

Based on those who are married

	Husband	Wife	Both (vol.)	Other (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
1997	82	9	5	2	2
1952	76	12	4	8	--
(vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Knowing what you do now, if you had to do it over, is there a chance you might not marry the same person, or do you think you probably would, or are you certain you would?

Based on those who are married

	Might not	Probably would	Certainly would	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
1997	9	28	62	1
1948	10	28	49	13
(vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Marriage

Related Topics Include:

The Five Conditions Assessment

Recommended

Americans Still Unclear on Public Support for Gay Marriage

Women Still Handle Main Household Tasks in U.S.

Understanding the Increase in Moral Acceptability of Polygamy

Gallup Decade in Review: 2010-2019