Millennials are getting married later and at a slower pace than previous generations—in part because of economic harships—and that's leading to a lot of babies born out of wedlock. Roughly 47% of the millennial women who had babies in 2012 weren't married, compared with 35% of mothers from Generation X when they were that age, according to a new Pew study on the generation.
That's just one of the interesting findings in Pew's report on the most recent generation to hit adulthood. The survey found that millennials, who range in age from 18 to 33, are more diverse, less trusting, and yet more optimistic than their forebears. Other findings include:
- A full half of millennials identify as politically independent, and just 31% believe there's a big difference between Democrats and Republicans. Yet they're distinctly liberal on many issues, and 60% voted for President Obama in 2012. It is the only generation in which conservatives don't significantly outnumber liberals.
- Millennials are more racially diverse than any previous generation; about 43% are not white. Expect that trend to continue in future generations; about half of babies born today are not white.
- They're significantly less devout. Only 58% say they're "absolutely certain" God exists and 29% are not affiliated with any religion.
- Millennials are the first generation in the modern era to be worse off in terms of poverty, unemployment, income, and personal wealth than the two previous generations were at the same age.
- That might be why only 26% are married—compared to 36% of Gen Xers when they were this age, and 48% of Baby Boomers. But 69% said they'd like to be married, with many citing economic obstacles.
- Yet despite their hardships, millennials are more optimistic than other generations, with 49% saying the country's best days are ahead, compared to 42% of Gen Xers and 44% of boomers.
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