2003 Louisiana Vital Statistics Report - Louisiana Department of ...
2003 Louisiana Vital Statistics Report - Louisiana Department of ...
2003 Louisiana Vital Statistics Report - Louisiana Department of ...
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MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE <strong>2003</strong> LOUISIANA VITAL STATISTICS REPORT<br />
The average age <strong>of</strong> <strong>Louisiana</strong> brides in <strong>2003</strong> was 41.7 years, while the average for grooms was 45.2 years. Over the past few<br />
years, there has been a steady increase in the ages <strong>of</strong> men and women who marry in the state (Table 7.4).<br />
Table 7.4 Average and Median Ages <strong>of</strong> Brides and Grooms<br />
<strong>Louisiana</strong>, 1993-<strong>2003</strong><br />
Year <strong>of</strong> Average Age in Years Median Age in Years<br />
Marriage Bride Groom Bride Groom<br />
1993 28.7 31.0 25.4 27.6<br />
1994 29.0 31.0 25.6 27.8<br />
1995 29.4 32.0 26.1 28.2<br />
1996 29.6 32.0 26.3 28.4<br />
1997 29.8 32.3 26.4 28.7<br />
1998 30.0 32.4 26.7 28.8<br />
1999 30.0 32.4 26.8 28.9<br />
2000 30.5 33.0 27.2 29.4<br />
2001 30.6 33.0 27.2 29.4<br />
2002 30.9 33.4 27.2 29.6<br />
<strong>2003</strong> 41.7 45.2 40.1 43.4<br />
Source: <strong>Louisiana</strong> State Center for Health <strong>Statistics</strong>,<br />
During the period 1991-<strong>2003</strong>, there was a decrease in the rates <strong>of</strong> marriage in the 15-19 and 20-24 year age groups for both<br />
men and women (Table 7.5).<br />
Year<br />
Table 7.5 Marriage Rates + by Gender and Age, Selected Years<br />
<strong>Louisiana</strong>, 1991-<strong>2003</strong><br />
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-44<br />
Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male<br />
1991 34.7 13.6 70.7 66.6 46.9 67.4 20.3 24.7<br />
1994 29.4 11.5 70.4 65.1 52.1 63.3 22.6 26.9<br />
1997 22.6 8.6 64.9 55.6 55.7 64.8 23.3 27.9<br />
2001* 18.0 6.6 61.9 52.6 51.4 57.6 23.5 27.6<br />
2002 17.2 6.2 56.6 46.4 50.7 57.0 23.3 27.4<br />
<strong>2003</strong> 17.1 6.3 57.4 46.7 51.4 56.6 24.2 28.2<br />
+<br />
Rate per 1,000 gender/age-specific population. * Note: Population estimates for 2002 were used to calculate age-specific rates.<br />
Source: <strong>Louisiana</strong> State Center for Health <strong>Statistics</strong>.<br />
Prior Marital Status<br />
In <strong>2003</strong>, 44.3% <strong>of</strong> all marriages were first marriages performed in <strong>Louisiana</strong> for both the bride and the groom; 54.4% <strong>of</strong> brides<br />
and 54.3% <strong>of</strong> grooms stated that they had never been married (Table 7.6). In 21.9% <strong>of</strong> the marriages, both the bride and the<br />
groom were previously divorced while 33.8% <strong>of</strong> all brides and 34.4% <strong>of</strong> all grooms stated that they were previously divorced.<br />
Page 142 <strong>Louisiana</strong> Office <strong>of</strong> Public Health, State Center for Health <strong>Statistics</strong>