PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 2 (UPI) -- A majority of Americans say they want to be married but marriage is becoming less important than it has been in the past, a Gallup poll found.

The poll, conducted June 20-24, found 54 percent of Americans are currently married and 20 percent have never been married, but want to do so in the future, Gallup said.


Five percent said they are not married now and do not want to be married ever, while 20 percent of respondents said they have either been previously married or did not classify their marital status.

The poll found 64 percent of respondents said they believe legal marriage is important for people who want to spend their lives together, or for people who have a child together. In 2006, 76 percent said they thought it was important for unmarried couples who have children to get married, and 73 percent said the same for people who plan to spending their lives together.

Gallup surveyed 2,048 adults over age 18 nationwide. The poll had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.