Half of U.S. adults age 18 and older are single, a percentage that has increased significantly over the last several decades, a recent report from Pew Research Center reveals. In 1960, singles represented just over a quarter (28 percent) of the adult population.

Contributing to the trend is the fact that Americans are waiting longer to marry. In 2016, the median age for a first marriage was 27.4 for women and 29.5 for men —  up from 20.3 for women and 22.8 for men in 1960.

At the same time, more Americans are eschewing marriage altogether, choosing instead to cohabitate and raise children outside of matrimony. Some 14 percent of never-married adults today say they want to remain single forever, and 27 percent are uncertain about whether they want to marry. A small majority (58 percent) hope to marry someday.

The likelihood of remaining single varies by socioeconomic status, education, and race and ethnicity.

Nearly half (47 percent) of never-married singles with a household income of less than $30,000 cite financial instability as a major reason for remaining unmarried. About 40 percent of those earning between $30,000 and $74,999 say they are unable to marry because of finances, as do 21 percent of those making more than $75,000. Racial minorities (48 percent) are more likely than whites (33 percent) to say finances interfere with marriage.

More Americans are eschewing marriage altogether.

Among U.S. adults 25 and older, education is a predictor of marriage; 65 percent of college graduates holding at least a bachelor’s degree are married, compared to 55 percent with some postsecondary education and 50 percent with no education beyond high school.

The education gap has widened considerably since 1990, when more than 60 percent of Americans age 25 and older across all education levels were married (including 69 percent of college grads, 67 percent of those with some college, and 63 percent of those with no college).

Majorities of Asian (61 percent) and white (54 percent) adults age 18 and older are married today, while just 46 percent of Hispanics and 30 percent of blacks are married.

Perhaps there are a couple of takeaways for church leaders. First, in a culture that increasingly devalues the traditional family, pastors must continue to uphold and proclaim God’s standards regarding marriage and sexuality.

In addition, these statistics suggest congregations can help combat the breakdown of the family by alleviating poverty, reaching out to minorities, and promoting racial equality and education in their communities.