Arizona has the 36 ranked strongest family culture in the country, according to a new national index. The Family Structure Index measures which state have the most stable and sustainable families, highlighting the importance of strong families for the future of our state and nation.

The Index analyzes demographic and fertility data to determine which states are best situated to improve the prospects for happy and healthy children and the economic well-being of a state. Utah ranks at the top, and Rhode Island ranks last.

Arizona’s rankings in the Index reflect concerning trends for family stability in the state. Only 44.5% of Arizona teens are raised in intact families, the state’s fertility rate sits at 1.62, and just 54.9% of prime-aged adults (25-54) are married—all three measures placing Arizona in the bottom half of the nation.

“More than half of Arizona’s adults are choosing not to marry. It’s clear we have work to do to strengthen the primary means of stable communities and protecting and providing for the next generation.” said Peter Gentala, President of Center for Arizona Policy. “CAP remains committed to promoting policies that strengthen marriage and remove barriers that discourage couples from making and keeping this lifelong commitment that is the foundation of so many other commitments.”

Developed by Brad Wilcox, Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project of the University of Virginia in partnership with Center for Christian Virtue and The Institute for Family Studies, the Index focuses on the share of adult residents of a state who are married, have children, and raise those children together through the child’s high-school years.

The index is specifically made up of three components:

• The percentage of adults aged 25 to 54 in the state who are married.
• The average number of lifetime births per woman in the state (the Total Fertility Rate).
• The percentage of children in the state who are living with their married birth or adoptive parents at ages 15 to 17.

Unsurprisingly, we see a connection between healthy and stable families and the economic well-being of a state. Seven of the top 10 states in the Family Structure Index are also in the top ten in the American Legislative Exchange Commissions Laffer State Economic Outlook Rankings of 2024, analyzing the states with the lowest tax and regulatory policies.