Widowhood and Remarriage Trends in Canada 1956 to 1981

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper first examines the prevalence of widowhood in Canada from 1956 to 1981. Second, data are presented concerning the probability of remarriage following widowhood and the length of time a person can expect to stay in the widowed state until either remarriage or death. The data indicate that the female is far more likely to be widowed than the male, that the widow is much less likely to remarry than is the widower, and that the widow on the average spends more time in the widowed state than does the widower. Finally, the data show that the number of widows for each widower has increased substantially during the 1956–1981 period.