Probability of Marrying Someone of a Different Race

According to Pew Research Center analysis of Census data, approximately 19% of new marriages in the United States are between spouses of different races or ethnicities. This represents a dramatic increase from 3% in 1967 (when the Supreme Court struck down anti-miscegenation laws in Loving v. Virginia) and 7% in 1980. About 11% of all married couples (not just newlyweds) are interracial.

Intermarriage rates vary significantly by race and ethnicity. Among newlyweds: about 36% of Asian Americans, 28% of Hispanic Americans, 19% of Black Americans, and 11% of white Americans married someone of a different race or ethnicity. Geographic variation is also significant: Hawaii has the highest intermarriage rate (42% of newlyweds) while Mississippi has the lowest (about 3%).

Interracial couples face unique challenges including navigating different cultural expectations, dealing with potential family disapproval (though acceptance has increased dramatically), and addressing racial bias and discrimination. Research shows that interracial marriages have historically had slightly higher divorce rates than same-race marriages, but this gap has narrowed considerably as societal acceptance has increased. Public approval of interracial marriage reached 94% in 2021 Gallup polling, up from 4% in 1958.