Intermarriage and Assimilation Among Arabs in the United States: Estimates, Causes, and Trends, 1990–2010

Intermarriage is indicative of an immigrant group’s assimilation into its host society. This study investigates recent intermarriage levels and patterns for Arab Americans; evaluates how acculturation, cultural and structural factors affect their marital choices; and examines differences among Arab national-origin groups. We employ logistic regression analysis and use data from the 2007 to 2011 American Community Survey that gives a sufficiently large sample. The relatively strong socio-economic status of Arab Americans, especially the native-born, leads us to expect high out-marriage rates. Results confirm earlier findings, based on 1990 census data, despite the doubling in size of this population and its disparagement since 9/11. The overall high levels of exogamy suggest Arab Americans are assimilating quickly. The predictors are largely similar for both sexes, but there are also some significant ethnic effects.