How many single women are there in North America between 20 and 45?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 18 May 2005 09:37 PDT

Do you really want numbers for all of North America (US, Canada, and
Mexico) or will US data do the trick?

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by bighair-ga on 18 May 2005 16:59 PDT

Us data will do the trick. I just need a total figure. I don't need
Canada or Mexico.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 18 May 2005 17:06 PDT

Thanks for getting back to me.  Now I have a follow-up question, if you don't mind.

A commenter has offered you some information (gratis!), below.  If
this is what you need, then it looks like you got yourself a freebie. 
If you still need more information, though -- or need the same data
presented more clearly -- then let me know, I'll do my best to provide
a formal answer for your question.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by bighair-ga on 18 May 2005 18:49 PDT

I don't just want women who have never been married. I would like the
total number of single women. This would include never been married,
divorced and, if possible, not in a defacto relationship.

Thanks for getting back to me on this.

According to the Census Bureau's data table entitled:  


Table A1. Marital Status of People 15 Years and Over, by Age, Sex,
Personal Earnings, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 2003


which can be found (in spreadsheet format) here:


http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2003/tabA1-all.xls


and in printed (PDF) format, here:


http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2003/tabA1-all.pdf


the numbers of women in the US in the age range of 20-44 (sorry...the
cutoff didn't quite make it to 45) are as follows:
														
Married Spouse Present
27,733,000


Married Spouse Absent
720,000


Widowed
429,000


Divorced
4,816,000


Separated
1,660,000


Never Married
16,527,000



I trust this information fully answers your question.  However, please
don't rate this answer until you have everything you need.  If you
would like any additional information, just post a Request for
Clarification to let me know how I can assist you further, and I'm at
your service.

All the best,

pafalafa-ga


search strategy -- visited the Census Bureau site and explored their
population categories for the right information.

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Request for Answer Clarification by bighair-ga on 18 May 2005 20:21 PDT

Hi. thanks for that. Does married spouse absent mean that they are
separated and then theoretically single?

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Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 19 May 2005 04:30 PDT

You'll find all the definitions here:


http://www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/Def/Maritals.htm
Spouse Absent--Married people whose wife or husband was not reported
as a member of the same household.



"Married, spouse absent" appears to be a bit of a catch-all, and isn't
really well-described in the definition.  It probably includes women
whose husbands do not regularly live at home (presumably, e.g, where
he is in the military or another job stationed elsewhere), but also
those who are no longer together as a couple, but can't quite bring
themselves to use the word "separated" yet.


Hope that helps.

paf

If you are just looking for the US data, the Census Bureau has a table
that shows the breakdowns by Age and Sex (released in Sept. 2004):
http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2003/tabA1-all.xls

In the 20 to 45 age group, 16,527,000 women have never been married.
Also, in the 20-24 age range approx. 75% of women have not been
married, but that number continues to drop in each successive 4-year
bracket. Only 40% of women between the ages of 25-29 have not been
married (median age when women marry is around 25 years of age), and
just 23% between 30-34 have not been married. The percentage tapers
off to single digits by age 45. However, note that this does not take
into account women have divorced, separated or who are widowed. That
data can also be found in the table.

I would also like the figures for North America. You don't need to include the US.