Nearly half of Seattle adults are single
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Looking for love? Nearly half of the Seattle area's adult residents are unmarried, a growing trend over recent years, according to census data.
Why it matters: More Americans are delaying or foregoing marriage for a host of reasons, but it remains a bedrock of U.S. socioeconomic life and a strong predictor of happiness.
By the numbers: Nearly 49% of residents aged 20 and older in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma metro area are single, with 49.4% of women and 48% of men unmarried, per 2019 to 2023 U.S. Census American Community Survey data.
- Seattle's share of single-person households surged from 17% in 2016 to 40% in 2021, with the number of single women nearly doubling and single men tripling, according to a 2023 SmartAsset analysis of census statistics.
- Statewide, 48% of adults are single, compared to the national average of 49%.
- Whitman County, home to Washington State University, leads the state in singles, with 60% of residents unmarried.
How it works: These figures include people who have never been married, as well as those who were previously married but are now divorced, separated or widowed.
Between the lines: Marriage rates are tied to a variety of socioeconomic factors, including income, employment and education — though there's some debate among social scientists over exactly how that all plays out.
- The modern era's historically low marriage rates can also be understood as a reflection of women's decreasing reliance on men compared to past decades.
- Just 50 years ago, women needed a husband or male relative to co-sign for a loan or credit card.
The bottom line: If you're looking for better odds, consider Baltimore (74%), the Bronx (72%) or Washington, D.C. (69%), which top the list in percentage of singles among U.S. counties with at least 25,000 unmarried adults.