Valentine’s Day By the Numbers

Okay, so quantifying love isn’t exactly romantic. But we sure can try.

Here are some Valentine’s Day numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau to whisper in your sweetheart’s ear, you know, in case you can’t think of anything else to do on Feb. 14.

24.7 pounds

Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2010.

1,155

Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2010, employing 35,074 people. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 121, followed by Pennsylvania, with 114.

$13.5 billion

Total value of shipments in 2011 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products.

3,365

Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2010.

16,182

The total number of florists’ establishments nationwide in 2010. These businesses employed 70,575 people. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (4531) <>

$880,893,904

The value of imports for cut flowers and buds for bouquets in 2011. Flower bouquets are a popular gift for loved ones on Valentine’s Day. The total value of fresh cut roses in 2011 was $365,453,189.

Jewelry

$2.66 Billion

Amount of merchandise sold in US jewelry stores in February 2012.

28.6 and 26.6 years

Median age at first marriage in 2012 for men and women, respectively.

53%

The overall percentage of adults who reported being married.

68.8%

Percentage of people 15 and older in 2012 who had been married at some point in their lives — either currently or formerly.

38.3

Rate of marriages per 1,000 people performed in Nevada during 2010. So many couples tie the knot in the Silver State that it ranked number one nationally in marriage rates. Hawaii ranked second with a marriage rate of 17.6.

2.1 million

Number of marriages that took place in the United States in 2010. That breaks down to nearly 5,800 a day.

74.5%

The percentage of women who married for the first time between 1990 and 1994, who marked their 10th anniversary. This compares with 83 percent of women who married for the first time between 1960 and 1964.

6.2%

As of 2009, the percentage of currently married women who had been married for at least 50 years. A little more than half of currently married women had been married for at least 15 years.

393

The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2007. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed 3,125 people and pulled in $928 million in revenue.

19.5%

Percentage of people ever married twice as of 2011. Five percent have married three or more times. By comparison, 75.3 percent of people who have ever been married have made only one trip down the aisle.

8

Median length, in years, of first marriages that ended in divorce.

3.8 and 3.7

The median time in years between divorce and a second marriage for men and women, respectively. However, the two medians are not significantly different from each other.

9% and 7.9%

Among people 15 and older in 2009, the percentage of men and women, respectively, who had married twice and were still married.

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; or e-mail.