What percentage of Black couples stay married for 20 years?

• A. 69%
• B. 50%
• C. 25%
• D. 37%

Answer: (D)

Long-term stability of Black marriages is about how many marriages formed at one time are still intact after a long span, like twenty years. When researchers look at this, they’re measuring a survival outcome: of couples who marry, what share remain married two decades later?

About 37% is the best estimate for this 20-year mark. That figure reflects the reality that many marriages end in divorce or separation over time, due to a mix of social, economic, and personal factors that influence relationship durability. The percentage isn’t reflecting how many people are currently married, but how many marriages survive to two decades, starting from the time of marriage.

The other options are less aligned with long-term survival patterns. Very high figures like 69% or 50% would imply far higher long-term stability than most longitudinal data show for Black marriages, while 25% underestimates the typical remaining proportion. So the 37% estimate best captures the commonly observed trajectory of lasting marriages in this group.