In 1999, about 76 percent of men ages 65 and older were married, compared with 44 percent of older women. This difference is mainly due to the gap in life expectancy: Women typically outlive their husbands. It is also due, in part, to the greater likelihood of men remarrying after divorce or widowhood and choosing younger partners.
The gap between men and women widens with advancing age. Among those 85 and over, 53 percent of men were still married and 42 percent were widowed, while only 14 percent of women were still married and 77 percent were widowed.
In 1999, older men and women were equally likely to be divorced, about 7 percent each. The percentage of older Americans who are divorced has tripled since 1970, when only 2 percent of older men and women fell into this category.
