U.S.A. With the average number of divorces at an all time low, the number of marriages is following the same decline, according to a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and NCHS National Vital Statistics System.

What does that study mean for Americans?

In a poll by Pew Research Center, 44 percent of Americans ages 18-29 believe that marriage is becoming obsolete. The older age groups saw a slight decrease in pessimism, but not very much.

Therefore, more and more Americans are avoiding divorce and marriage all together. Are Americans becoming more pessimistic about love and marriage?

A California resident, seems to share that view. Stefan Allen-Hickey, 30, said “marriage is an old construct that doesn’t work anymore,” while sitting on the grass in Dolores Park, San Francisco, on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

So the decline in divorces is not due to couples staying married. But rather couples forgoing marriage altogether. Why the change in affect towards marriage?

According to The Guardian the cause is a myriad of things – cultural and economical. The economic standpoint is that getting married means having a ceremony and a reception which can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $200,000 (if you’re a celebrity or one of the 1%). And why spend all that money on one day that could have gone to several other equally important events or investments? And the cultural aspect is that marriage is not so much about religion and duty as it once was 50+ years ago. Not to mention most couples co-habit without the intention of marriage regularly.

But does that mean that marriage is actually becoming obsolete?

Not exactly. According to the same study, the number of marriages in 2011 was 2.12 million. Yes, the rate has declined, which ultimately means the rate of divorces also follows suit. However, 2.12 million marriages is still A LOT of marriages. Perhaps in the coming years the rate will continue to decline, or it might stay stagnant, or *gasp* increase. Whichever it may be, marriages will never cease to exist.

Very little is written about the American perspective on marital success and on the institution of marriage as a whole. My guess is that more and more individuals are seeking ways to avoid divorce – however that goal may be achieved. It’s working America!