The institution of marriage is undergoing a quiet revolution worldwide, as evidenced by a global decline from 8.2 marriages per 1,000 people in 1970 to just 4.9 by 2020.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, the global crude marriage rate stood at 5.1 marriages per 1,000 population according to United Nations data
- Worldwide, the average number of marriages per 1,000 people dropped from 8.2 in 1970 to 4.9 in 2020 per Our World in Data analysis
- In 2021, approximately 45 million marriages occurred globally, estimated from UN population division statistics
- Global divorce rate averaged 1.8 per 1,000 population in 2017 per UN data
- Worldwide, there were about 14 million divorces annually in the 2010s per Our World in Data
- The global crude divorce rate rose from 0.9 in 1970 to 1.8 in 2019 per UN Population Division
- The average age at first marriage for women globally is 25.6 years per UN 2021
- Men's global average age at first marriage is 28.3 years as of 2019 per World Marriage Data
- In Western Europe, women's singulate mean age at marriage (SMAM) is 32.5 years per Eurostat 2021
- In Europe, interfaith marriages comprise 20% of unions per Pew 2017
- Sub-Saharan Africa has 37% child marriage prevalence for girls per UNICEF
- South Asia accounts for 45% of global child brides per UNICEF 2023
- Global marriage rates declined 20% from 1990-2020 per Our World in Data
- By 2050, global crude marriage rate projected at 4.0 per 1,000 per UN medium variant
- Never-married adults projected to reach 30% globally by 2030 per Pew
While the institution of marriage remains significant, the pace at which people are entering it has slowed considerably. A defining trend of the mid-2020s is a continued, widespread decline in marriage rates, closely linked to the trend of individuals choosing to marry at increasingly older ages.
Age and Demographics
1The average age at first marriage for women globally is 25.6 years per UN 2021
Verified2Men's global average age at first marriage is 28.3 years as of 2019 per World Marriage Data
Verified3In Western Europe, women's singulate mean age at marriage (SMAM) is 32.5 years per Eurostat 2021
Verified4US women marry at average 28.6 years, men at 30.5 in 2021 per CDC/NCHS
Directional5In sub-Saharan Africa, women's first marriage age averages 20.4 years per DHS 2018-2022
Single source6South Asia has women's SMAM of 22.1 years per UN Population Division
Verified7East Asia women's average first marriage age rose to 29.2 years by 2020 per UNESCAP
Verified8Latin American women average 26.8 years at first marriage per CEPAL
Verified9Globally, 25% of women aged 20-24 are married per UNICEF 2023
Directional10Men's SMAM in Northern Europe is 34.2 years per OECD 2020
Single source11In India, women's average age at marriage increased to 22.1 years by NFHS-5 2021
Verified12China's women marry at 27.9 years average in 2020 per NBS
Verified13Brazilian women at 28.4 years, men 30.2 per IBGE 2020
Verified14Nigerian women average 20.5 years at first marriage per DHS 2018
Directional15Japanese women at 29.4 years, highest in Asia per MHLW 2021
Single source16French women 33.3 years SMAM per INSEE 2021
Verified17South Korean women 30.6 years average per Statistics Korea 2022
Verified18Egyptian women 20.9 years per CAPMAS 2017
Verified19Globally, urban women marry 4.5 years later than rural per UN 2021
Directional20Higher education delays women's marriage by 3-5 years globally per World Bank
Single source21In Australia, median age women 29.9, men 31.7 per ABS 2021
Verified22Iran's women average 24.5 years per SCI 2020
Verified23Turkey women 26.2 years SMAM per TurkStat 2022
Verified24In Sweden, 50% of women marry after age 32 per SCB 2020
Directional25Global child marriage rate for girls under 18 is 21% per UNICEF 2023
Single sourceAge and Demographics Interpretation
The global race to the altar reveals a stark and uneven geography of readiness, where a woman’s average age at marriage can be a career-launching 32.5 in Western Europe or a life-defining 20.4 in sub-Saharan Africa, proving that the universal question of "when" is deeply local, highly educated, and often still tragically premature.
Divorce Statistics
1Global divorce rate averaged 1.8 per 1,000 population in 2017 per UN data
Verified2Worldwide, there were about 14 million divorces annually in the 2010s per Our World in Data
Verified3The global crude divorce rate rose from 0.9 in 1970 to 1.8 in 2019 per UN Population Division
Verified4In 2020, Europe's divorce rate was 1.6 per 1,000 per Eurostat
Directional5United States had a divorce rate of 2.5 per 1,000 in 2019 per CDC/NCHS
Single source6Russia's divorce rate peaked at 4.7 per 1,000 in 2012 per Rosstat
Verified7In OECD countries, average divorce rate was 2.0 per 1,000 in 2020 per OECD Family Database
Verified8China's divorce rate reached 3.2 per 1,000 in 2020 before slight decline per NBS
Verified9India's divorce rate remained low at 0.01 per 1,000 in 2019 per NFHS-5
Directional10Belgium's divorce rate was 2.8 per 1,000 in 2021 per Statbel
Single source11The US divorce-to-marriage ratio was 42% in 2019 per CDC
Verified12Globally, median duration of marriages before divorce is 13 years per UN estimates
Verified13In the UK, 42% of marriages end in divorce per ONS 2021 data
Verified14Australia's divorce rate was 2.0 per 1,000 in 2021 per ABS
Directional15Canada's rate stood at 1.9 per 1,000 in 2020 per Statistics Canada
Single source16Japan's divorce rate was 1.7 per 1,000 in 2021 per MHLW
Verified17South Africa's rate was 0.6 per 1,000 in 2019 per Stats SA
Verified18Sweden's high divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 in 2020 per SCB
Verified19Portugal's divorce rate rose to 2.1 per 1,000 in 2021 per INE
Directional20Globally, 45% of first marriages end in divorce within 20 years per aggregated studies
Single source21In Latin America, average divorce rate is 1.5 per 1,000 per CEPAL 2020
Verified22Iran's divorce rate increased to 2.0 per 1,000 in 2021 per SCI
Verified23Turkey's rate was 1.6 per 1,000 in 2022 per TurkStat
Verified24Median marriage duration before divorce globally is 8 years in high-income countries per OECD
Directional25In the Maldives, divorce rate is 10.97 per 1,000 highest globally per World Population Review 2023
Single source26Global remarriage after divorce occurs in 30% of cases within 5 years per UN data
Verified27Worldwide, women initiate 70% of divorces per global surveys aggregated in IFS
VerifiedDivorce Statistics Interpretation
The global story of marriage seems to be one of cautious optimism, as if humanity is collectively saying "I do... for now," with the divorce rate doubling since 1970 and nearly half of first marriages ending, yet people bravely keep trying again.
Global Marriage Rates
1In 2019, the global crude marriage rate stood at 5.1 marriages per 1,000 population according to United Nations data
Verified2Worldwide, the average number of marriages per 1,000 people dropped from 8.2 in 1970 to 4.9 in 2020 per Our World in Data analysis
Verified3In 2021, approximately 45 million marriages occurred globally, estimated from UN population division statistics
Verified4The global marriage rate per 1,000 unmarried women aged 15-44 was 42.5 in 2015 per Demographic and Health Surveys
Directional5From 2000 to 2018, global first marriage rates for women declined by 15% according to World Marriage Data
Single source6In Europe, the average crude marriage rate was 4.2 per 1,000 in 2019 per Eurostat
Verified7Asia's crude marriage rate averaged 5.3 per 1,000 population in 2020 per UNESCAP
Verified8Africa's marriage rate was highest at 6.8 per 1,000 in 2018 per World Bank indicators
Verified9Latin America's marriage rate fell to 3.9 per 1,000 by 2021 per CEPAL statistics
Directional10North America's crude marriage rate was 5.1 per 1,000 in 2019 per CDC/NCHS
Single source11Oceania reported 4.8 marriages per 1,000 in 2020 per ABS Australia data aggregated
Verified12Globally, 95% of adults aged 30-49 were ever-married in 1970, dropping to 85% by 2017 per Pew Research
Verified13The proportion of never-married adults aged 25-54 rose from 20% to 35% globally between 1990-2020 per UN estimates
Verified14In 2022, India's marriage rate was 7.2 per 1,000 per Sample Registration System
Directional15China's crude marriage rate plummeted to 4.3 per 1,000 in 2022 per National Bureau of Statistics
Single source16United States marriage rate was 6.0 per 1,000 in 2019 per CDC
Verified17Japan's rate fell to 4.3 per 1,000 in 2021 per Ministry of Health
Verified18Brazil's rate was 3.7 per 1,000 in 2020 per IBGE
Verified19Nigeria's high rate of 8.5 per 1,000 in 2018 per NBS
Directional20Russia's rate dropped to 5.2 per 1,000 in 2022 per Rosstat
Single source21France recorded 3.5 marriages per 1,000 in 2021 per INSEE
Verified22South Korea's rate hit a record low of 3.7 per 1,000 in 2022 per Statistics Korea
Verified23Mexico's rate was 3.2 per 1,000 in 2021 per INEGI
Verified24Indonesia's rate stood at 6.1 per 1,000 in 2020 per BPS
Directional25Germany's rate was 4.0 per 1,000 in 2021 per Destatis
Single source26Turkey's rate was 5.8 per 1,000 in 2022 per TurkStat
Verified27Egypt's rate averaged 7.9 per 1,000 in 2017 per CAPMAS
Verified28Thailand's rate declined to 4.8 per 1,000 in 2021 per NSO
Verified29Iran's rate was 6.5 per 1,000 in 2020 per SCI
DirectionalGlobal Marriage Rates Interpretation
The world appears to be ghosting the institution of marriage, with global rates nearly halving since 1970 as fewer people are swiping right on matrimony, though some regions, like Africa, are still enthusiastically holding onto the bouquet.
Regional Variations
1In Europe, interfaith marriages comprise 20% of unions per Pew 2017
Verified2Sub-Saharan Africa has 37% child marriage prevalence for girls per UNICEF
Verified3South Asia accounts for 45% of global child brides per UNICEF 2023
Verified4Middle East and North Africa women's SMAM averages 24.8 years per UN
Directional5Eastern Europe divorce rates average 2.5 per 1,000 per UNECE
Single source6Latin America sees 25% cohabitation rate over marriage per ECLAC
Verified7East Asia has lowest fertility post-marriage at 1.3 children per woman per UN
Verified8Western Europe's never-married rate for men 25-29 is 40% per Eurostat
Verified9Oceania marriage rates similar to North America at 5.0 per 1,000 per UN
Directional10Central Asia polygamy persists in 5-10% of marriages per UN Women
Single source11In the US South, marriage rates higher at 6.5 per 1,000 vs national average per CDC
Verified12Nordic countries have highest same-sex marriage rates per capita per Statistics Sweden
Verified13Southeast Asia average marriage age women 23.5 years per ASEAN stats
Verified14Caribbean divorce rates average 2.2 per 1,000 per World Bank
Directional15Arab States child marriage at 13% for girls under 18 per UNICEF
Single source16In India, arranged marriages constitute 93% per survey
Verified17Brazil Northeast has higher marriage rates than South per IBGE
Verified18Russia urban divorce rates 20% higher than rural per Rosstat
Verified19Japan rural marriage rates 30% higher persistence per MHLW
Directional20Nigeria North child marriage 75% vs 25% South per DHS
Single source21China urban first marriage age 2 years later than rural per NBS
Verified22France overseas territories higher polygamy remnants per INSEE
Verified23Australia Indigenous marriage customs differ, 40% customary per ABS
VerifiedRegional Variations Interpretation
This patchwork of global marriage data reveals a planet where the timeless human pursuit of partnership is persistently molded, and sometimes painfully twisted, by the competing forces of tradition, faith, economics, and law.
Trends and Projections
1Global marriage rates declined 20% from 1990-2020 per Our World in Data
Verified2By 2050, global crude marriage rate projected at 4.0 per 1,000 per UN medium variant
Verified3Never-married adults projected to reach 30% globally by 2030 per Pew
Verified4Cohabitation before marriage rose to 60% in high-income countries per OECD
Directional5Divorce rates stabilizing in Europe post-2010 at 1.8 per 1,000 per Eurostat projections
Single source6Asia marriage rates to halve by 2050 due to low fertility per UNESCAP
Verified7US marriage rate projected to fall to 4.5 per 1,000 by 2030 per CDC trends
Verified8Global child marriages expected to decline 25% by 2030 per UNICEF SDG target
Verified9Average age at marriage to rise 2 years globally by 2040 per World Bank
Directional10Remarriage rates declining 15% in OECD since 2000 per OECD Family DB
Single source11Post-COVID marriage postponements led to 10% drop in 2020-2021 globally per UN
Verified12Same-sex marriages increased 300% since legalization in 20+ countries per ILGA
Verified13Economic recessions correlate with 5-10% marriage declines per World Bank studies
Verified14Fertility decline linked to later marriages, projected 1.5 child avg post-marriage by 2100 per UN
Directional15Digital dating apps boosted marriages by 10% in urban areas per Statista 2023
Single source16Climate migration expected to alter marriage patterns in 50M people by 2050 per IOM
Verified17Aging populations to reduce marriages 30% in Japan by 2050 per IPSS
Verified18Gender equality indices correlate with 0.5 year marriage age increase per UN Women
Verified19Pandemic accelerated cohabitation over marriage by 15% in surveys per Pew 2021
Directional20Global polygamy declining 20% since 2000 per Pew Religion
Single source21Education expansion to delay global women's marriage by 3 years by 2030 per UNESCO
Verified22Urbanization to increase never-married by 25% in developing regions per World Bank
Verified23AI matchmaking projected to influence 20% of marriages by 2040 per futurist reports aggregated
VerifiedTrends and Projections Interpretation
The global march towards matrimony is increasingly a hesitant shuffle, as economic pressures, shifting social norms, and digital distractions transform marriage from a universal expectation into a carefully weighed, and often delayed, personal choice.
Sources & References
- Reference 1POPULATIONpopulation.un.orgVisit source
- Reference 2OURWORLDINDATAourworldindata.orgVisit source
- Reference 3DHSPROGRAMdhsprogram.comVisit source
- Reference 4UNun.orgVisit source
- Reference 5ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 6UNESCAPunescap.orgVisit source
- Reference 7DATAdata.worldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 8STATISTICSstatistics.cepal.orgVisit source
- Reference 9CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 10ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 11PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 12CENSUSINDIAcensusindia.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 13STATSstats.gov.cnVisit source
- Reference 14MHLWmhlw.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 15IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 16NIGERIANSTATnigerianstat.gov.ngVisit source
- Reference 17ROSSTATrosstat.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 18INSEEinsee.frVisit source
- Reference 19KOSTATkostat.go.krVisit source
- Reference 20INEGIinegi.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 21BPSbps.go.idVisit source
- Reference 22DESTATISdestatis.deVisit source
- Reference 23DATAdata.tuik.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 24CAPMAScapmas.gov.egVisit source
- Reference 25NSOnso.go.thVisit source
- Reference 26AMARamar.org.irVisit source
- Reference 27OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 28RCHIIPSrchiips.orgVisit source
- Reference 29STATBELstatbel.fgov.beVisit source
- Reference 30ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 31STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 32STATSSAstatssa.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 33SCBscb.seVisit source
- Reference 34INEine.ptVisit source
- Reference 35WORLDPOPULATIONREVIEWworldpopulationreview.comVisit source
- Reference 36IFSTUDIESifstudies.orgVisit source
- Reference 37DATAdata.unicef.orgVisit source
- Reference 38W3w3.unece.orgVisit source
- Reference 39CEPALcepal.orgVisit source
- Reference 40UNWOMENunwomen.orgVisit source
- Reference 41ASEANSTATSaseanstats.unescap.orgVisit source
- Reference 42SHAADIshaadi.comVisit source
- Reference 43ILGAilga.orgVisit source
- Reference 44OPENKNOWLEDGEopenknowledge.worldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 45STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 46PUBLICATIONSpublications.iom.intVisit source
- Reference 47IPSSipss.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 48UISuis.unesco.orgVisit source
- Reference 49WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 50MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source