Relationship dynamics have seen a drastic shift over the past years. With the 21st century, not only has there been a change in the way a relationship is viewed, but the time around which people tie the knot has also changed. Previously, people used to marry at a younger age; however, recently the timelines have been pushed forward before people commit to a serious relationship, that is, marriage. The societal norms, the literacy rate, the economic conditions, and the overall lifestyles impact when people decide to tie the knot. Let’s take a look at the average age of marriage around the world and how it differs for different regions, and what that suggests about the culture, value system, and the preferences of these countries.
In the West, Marriage Happens Late
As previously mentioned, the age at which people tie the knot has seen a huge change in the past. This is especially prominent in the Western countries of Europe and America. The average age of marriage is gradually increasing.
The United States
People in the United States usually prefer to walk down the aisle at an average age of around 30 for men and 28 for women. A few years ago, the average age was lower for both.
The United Kingdom
The average age is a little higher compared to the United States. For couples in the United Kingdom, it is 32 for men and 30 for women.
Germany and France
Like the other developed countries of the West, Germany and France have also seen a rise in the average age of marriage for both men and women. This is primarily because people in the West are more career-oriented. They want to be academically and financially accomplished before they get into a lifetime commitment, like marriage.
Asia: Culture Meets Modernism
It would not be wrong to say that Asia has the most culturally and economically diverse population. The pattern of the average age of marriage is quite different for different regions of Asia.
South Korea and Japan
Following the same trend of marriage as the developed countries of the West, Japan and South Korea show the highest average age for marriage for both men and women in the Asian continent. The average age for men is 33, and that for women is around 31 for both regions. The couples are more focused on growing academically, financially, and professionally before settling down.
India
India is also a new emerging economy. As compared to the past, there has been a change in the average age of marriage for both men and women. It now stands at 29 for men and 24 for women, which could be attributed to the overall economic growth of the country, which has led to a better literacy rate, urbanization, and modernization of Indian society.
China
China has witnessed a rise in the average age of marriage as compared to the past, mostly due to the financial constraints and high living costs in the urban centers of the country, so couples here prefer to financially settle down before getting hitched.
The Middle East: Slowly Adapting To The Global Trend
The trends in the Middle East have mostly been determined by the religious and cultural norms, but lately, there has been a shift in the Middle Eastern average age of getting married as well.
KSA and UAE
The average age for getting married has now risen from 27 to 30 for men and from 24 to 27 for women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Lebanon and Jordan
Following the same trend as everywhere around the World, couples now strive to excel professionally before they can start a formal relationship. The average age for marriage has also observed the same pattern of rise as in other countries.
Africa: A Vast diversity
The African marriage landscape varies from region to region. The shift is widely impacted by changing gender roles, access to quality education, and better economic avenues.
In the underdeveloped countries like Niger and Chad, the marriage age is still quite early; they prefer to marry before hitting 20
On the contrary, countries like South Africa and Kenya, which are witnessing economic growth, urbanization, and an improving literacy rate, have seen that especially women are now starting families in their late 20s as compared to early 20s in the past.
Latin America: A Mix Of Tradition And Modernism
Latin American society is a hotchpotch of both tradition and modernism when it comes to its perspective on marriage.
Mexico
The average age for walking down the aisle in Mexico is 28 for men and 26 for women. This shows that Mexicans take some time to think things through and reach maturity before deciding to tie the knot.
Argentina and Brazil
The youth in Brazil and Argentina are more focused on establishing their careers before they start a family, so the average age of marriage has seen a rise in these countries. Now, the youth prefers to marry around the age of 30.
The Global Trend: More Aware, More Mature, and More Balanced
The average age for getting married has seen a similar pattern all across the world. People are not rushing into relationships because they want to achieve a certain social milestone or out of pressure from their families; they choose to break away from the shackles of culture and societal pressure. They are marrying more mature, more aware, and more balanced. Factors like increased literacy rates for women, more focus on professional growth, and evolving cultural norms have all helped shape the perspective on marriage.
Final Thoughts
Whether people marry in their 20s or in their 30s, the one common factor, in contrast to what happened in the past, is that people are not choosing marriage as a means to fulfill a certain milestone. They get into a relationship only after they feel academically, professionally, economically, and emotionally mature and wise enough to take the responsibility of a marriage. They are giving equal priority to their self-growth, their careers, and entering into a partnership or marriage as equals rather than being forced into a skewed bond
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