Marital status

Classified through self-reporting in the categories of married and unmarried. The term “married” encompasses all married people, including those separated from their spouses. “Unmarried” includes those who are single (never married), divorced, or widowed.

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

In Health, United States, marital status is presented for three groups: married; divorced, separated, or widowed; and never married. Starting with 2019 data, sample adults are asked whether they are married, living together with a partner as an unmarried couple, or neither. Those who answer neither are further asked if they have ever been married and their current legal marital status. Before the 2019 NHIS, marital status was asked of, or about, all people aged 14 years and over. Respondents were asked, “Are you now married, widowed, divorced, separated, never married, or living with a partner?”