Enhanced likelihood of a golden wedding anniversary

Today's newly married couples can more than ever expect to celebrate their silver and even golden wedding anniversaries. In comparison with their counterparts at the turn of the century, the chances of joint survival for 50 years for the typical bride and groom in 1995 were 3 1/4 times higher, despite increasing divorce rates and due in large part to increasing longevity. Currently, the median age at marriage for brides and grooms is at record high levels for both. In 1995 the median age at first marriage for a bride was 24.5 years and was 26.9 years for the groom--at the beginning of the century first marriage vows were spoken at age 21.9 and 25.9 years, respectively. The probability of surviving to have a silver wedding anniversary is extremely high. Of all newly married couples who remain married, nearly 900 out of every 1,000 can anticipate celebrating a 25th wedding anniversary together.