This is a list of long marriages. It includes only marriages extending over at least 80 years.
Background A study by Robert and Jeanette Lauer, reported in the Journal of Family Issues, conducted on 40 sets of spouses married for at least 50 years, concluded that the long-term married couples received high scores on the Lock-Wallace marital satisfaction test and were closely aligned on how their marriages were doing. In a 1979 study on about 55 couples in marriages with an average length of 55.5 years, couples said their marriages lasted so long because of mutual devotion and special regard for each other. Couples who have been married for a long time have a lower likelihood of divorcing because "common economic interests and friendship networks increase over time" and enduring stress can assist in sustaining the relationship.
Another study found that people in long marriages are wedded to the idea of "marital permanency" in which "They don't see divorce as an option". Sociologist Pepper Schwartz, the American Association of Retired Persons's relationships authority, said that it was helpful to have a spouse who is quick to recover when there are surprises in life.
A study of 1,152 couples who had been married for over 50 years found that they attributed their long marriages to faith in each other, love, ability to make concessions, admiration for each other, reliance on each other, children, and strong communication. Bowling Green State University (BGSU)'s National Center for Family and Marriage Research found that 7% of American marriages last at least 50 years.
Recording longest marriages The longest marriage recorded (although not officially recognized) is a granite wedding anniversary (90 years) between Karam and Kartari Chand, who both lived in the United Kingdom, but were married in India. The couple married in 1925, and died in 2016 and 2019, respectively.
Guinness World Records published its first edition in 1955. In the 1984 to 1998 editions, the longest recorded marriages were between Sir Temulji Bhicaji and Lady Nariman, and Lazarus and Mary Molly Rowe. According to the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, both of them are stated as spanning 86 years. Guinness has since recognized couples with longer marriage spans, with the current world record holders (as of 2024) being David and Sarah Hiller. It also keeps record of the oldest married couple by aggregate age.
Other organizations have created events where they honor couples with long marriages. In 2011, World Marriage Encounter (WME), an American organization that was responsible for making a World Marriage Day, created a Longest Married Couple Project (LMCP), where they pick a couple with a long marriage and honor them on Valentine's Day. They have since expanded the awards to representatives in each of the 50 states, although the candidates selected are not necessarily the ones with record-setting marriages. Starting in 2004, the Louisiana Family Forum (LFF) has honored its annual list of long-time married couples in that particular state, beginning with George and Germaine Briant.
List of marriages reported of 80 years or more
Names Marriage date Length of marriage End date(death of first spouse or divorce) Residence(at date of last report, first death, or divorce) Notes Refs Karam ChandKartari Chand 11 December 1925 27 September 2016(Karam) Bradford, David Jacob HillerSarah (née Davy) Hiller 23 April 1809 8 April 1898(Sarah) Michigan, Recognized by Guinness World Records as longest marriage ever K. Philipose Thomas Sosamma Thomas 17 February 1918 19 February 2006(Sosamma) Kerala, Herbert Fisher Sr.Zelmyra (née George) Fisher 13 May 1924 27 February 2011(Herbert Sr.) North Carolina, Was previously recognized by Guinness World Records as longest marriage ever Sir Temulji Bhicaji NarimanLady Nariman 1 August 1940(Sir Temulji Bhicaji) Maharashtra, Temulji and Lady Nariman married as cousins when they were five years old. This was noted as the longest marriage recorded through 1940. Shared Guinness World Record with Lazarus and Mary Molly Rowe for editions up to 1998. Liu Yung-YangLiu Yang Yang-Wan 10 March 1917 21 July 2003(Yang Yang-Wan) Taoyuan, Was recognized by Guinness World Records 2004 (published in 2003) as world's longest marriage Ralph KohlerDorothy (née Redding) Kohler 16 September 1935 2 December 2021(Dorothy) California, Recognized as America's longest lived married couple in 2020 and 2021 Something appropriateDorothy KohlerBurt County Plaindealer, 14 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022. John George Betar Sr.Ann (née Shawah) Betar 25 November 1932 12 September 2018(John George Sr.) Connecticut, Winner of the "Worldwide Marriage Encounter's Longest Married Couple Project" in 2013 Duranord VeillardJeanne Hermina Veillard 29 November 1932 1 June 2018(Duranord) New York, Lazarus RoweMary Molly (née Webber) Rowe 27 June 1829(Mary Molly) Maine, Shared Guinness World Record with Sir and Lady Nariman for editions up to 1998 "DEATHS." The Connecticut Courant (p. 2). 29 September 1829. Oliver Jackson GlennCora Lee (née Clark) Glenn 6 November 1904 24 December 1989(Oliver Jackson) Alabama, Previously recognized as the "Longest-married American couple" in 1989 Tadanosuke HashimotoHanae Hashimoto 1911 (Hanae) Hyogo, Earth's Elders: The Wisdom of the World's Oldest People (p. 169-170) Manoel Angelim DinoMaria Almeida (née de Souza) Dino 20 November 1940 20 October 2025(Manoel) Boa Viagem, Recognized by Guinness World Records as the then longest incumbent marriage in February 2025. Longest validated marriage in Brazil ever. Mario CalìAntonina (née Ardilio) Calì 19 November 1931 12 October 2016(Antonina) Sicily, Recognized as the "longest marriage in Europe" in 2015 William FullingimNancy (née Watson) Fullingim 11 August 1879 26 April 1964(Nancy) Oklahoma, Cleovis Whiteside Sr.Arwilda (née Kelly) Whiteside 24 July 1939 23 March 2024(Cleovis Sr.) Arkansas, United States Recognized as the longest marriage in the state José Francisco dos SantosOtacília Gomes (née de Oliveira) dos Santos 1 February 1929 20 September 2013(José Francisco) Poço das Trincheiras, Possibly the last marriage of the 1920s in which both parties were still alive. Also previously recognized as the longest known marriage in Brazil. Lyle GittensEleanor Gittens 4 June 1942 Florida, Recognized by Guinness World Records as the then longest incumbent marriage in November 2025. Marco MiloPasqua (née Palmieri) Milo 15 January 1938 17 May 2022(Marco) Bari, Francisco GarciaPaulina (née Calvillo) Garcia 26 May 1926 26 August 2010(Paulina) Texas, Recognized as "Texas's oldest married couple" in 2008 João Manoel GonçalvesSerafina (née Melo) Gonçalves 2 May 1934 2018(João Manoel) Torres, William J. "Bill" JonesEluned Jones 3 February 1923 28 January 2007("Bill") Pontypridd, Longest marriage ever in the United Kingdom and previously recognized as the "World's longest marriage" in 2006 Maurice KayeHelen Kaye 27 August 1934 23 July 2018(Maurice) Bournemouth, Daniel W. WilliamsWillie Williams 17 August 1937 1 July 2021(Daniel W.) North Carolina, Elton DennerBetty (née Lord) Denner 18 October 1942 22 August 2026