All persons were asked whether they were "now married," "widowed," "divorced," "separated," or "never married." Marital status data are tabulated only for persons 15 years old and older. This item was asked on a complete-count basis.
Couples who live together (unmarried persons, persons in common-law marriages, etc.) were allowed to report tile marital status they considered the most appropriate.
All persons who have never been married, including persons whose only marriage was annulled.
Persons married at the time of enumeration, including those separated, plus widowed or divorced persons.
Now married, except separated
Persons whose current marriage has ended through widowhood, divorce, or separation (regardless of previous marital history). The category may also include couples who live together or persons in common-law marriages if they consider this category the most appropriate. In certain tabulations based on sample data, currently married persons are further classified as "spouse present" or "spouse absent." See below.
Persons legally separated or otherwise absent from their spouse because of marital discord. Included are persons who have been deserted or who have parted because they no longer want to live together but who have not obtained a divorce. Separated includes persons with a limited divorce.
Widows and widowers who have not remarried.
Includes persons who are legally divorced and who have not remarried.
In selected sample tabulations, data for married and separated persons are reorganized and combined with information on the presence of the spouse in the same household:
All persons whose current marriage has not ended by widowhood or divorce. Includes persons categorized as separated above.
Married persons whose wife or husband was enumerated as a member of the same household, including those whose spouse may have been temporarily absent for such reasons as travel or hospitalization.
Married persons whose wife or husband was not enumerated as a member of the same household, and all married persons living in group quarters.
Married persons whose spouse was not enumerated as a member of the same household, excluding separated. Included are those whose spouse was employed and living away from home, absent in the Armed Forces, or an inmate of an institution.
Differences between the number of currently married males and the number of currently married females arise from the fact that some husbands and wives have their usual residence in different areas, and, in sample tabulations, from different weights applied to the data. Any differences between "now married, spouse present" males and females are due solely to sample weighting; by definition the numbers should be the same.
The 1980 definition of "now married" is comparable to the definition of the term "married" as used in publications of data from prior censuses. For 1980, marital status is tabulated for persons 15 years old and older, a change from the period 1950-1970 when marital status was tabulated for persons 14 years old and over. A general marital status question has been asked in every census since 1880.
See also: "Marital History;" "Unmarried Couples".
