Fact check: What percentage of couples celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, there is limited but consistent data suggesting that approximately 50% of couples celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. One source explicitly states that "half of today's newlyweds will celebrate their ruby (40th) anniversary together" ^[1]. This finding is supported by complementary data showing that around 40% of marriages end in divorce ^{[2] [3]}, which implies that roughly 60% of marriages could potentially reach the 40-year milestone ^[4].

The analyses also indicate that more Americans are reaching and exceeding the 40th wedding anniversary compared to previous generations ^[5], suggesting an improving trend in marital longevity. Additionally, divorce rates have been declining since the 1980s, with an increase in the number of children growing up in married-parent families ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual factors that significantly impact the accuracy of any percentage:

• Generational differences: The analyses suggest that current trends show improving marriage longevity, but historical data may show different patterns for couples who married in earlier decades
• Demographic variations: The sources do not address how factors such as socioeconomic status, education level, geographic location, or cultural background affect 40th anniversary celebration rates
• Definition clarity: The analyses don't distinguish between couples who are still married after 40 years versus those who actively "celebrate" their anniversary
• Mortality considerations: The question doesn't account for couples where one or both spouses may have passed away before reaching the 40-year mark, despite having a stable marriage

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it is posed as an inquiry rather than a claim. However, any definitive answer to this question could be misleading without proper context. The available data sources are limited, with several analyses noting that sources "do not provide relevant information" or "do not provide a specific percentage" ^{[6] [2] [3]}.

The 50% figure ^[1] appears to be a projection for "today's newlyweds" rather than historical data for couples who have already reached their 40th anniversary. This distinction is crucial, as current marriage trends may not reflect the experiences of couples who married 40+ years ago under different social and economic conditions.