American adults are leaving it later to get married than ever before - if indeed they do decide to tie the knot at all.

Research shows that the number of over-18s undergoing the ritual has fallen to a record low of just over 50 per cent - and the age at which they say their vows has never been higher.

The Pew Research Centre used U.S. Census data to reveal the 'market share' of marriage has fallen from 72 per cent in 1960 to 51 per cent today - with a staggering 5 per cent drop in the last year.