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What is the oldest age to get married?

Quartz examined marriage ages for countries with at least 5 million people, and for which the United Nations had data for men and women. The very oldest to get married are in Bulgaria at 34, while the youngest are in Niger at almost 21. What does that average number actually mean?

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This Valentine’s Day, a much larger share of young Americans will be spending the holiday with a partner than those in Italy. According to the international marriage data collected by the United Nations, the average Italian person now gets married at almost 34 years old. In the US, it is just over 28. As a result, over 50% of Americans are married in their early 30s compared to less than 40% of Italians. The United Nations data shows that typical marriage age varies hugely across the world. Quartz examined marriage ages for countries with at least 5 million people, and for which the United Nations had data for men and women. The very oldest to get married are in Bulgaria at 34, while the youngest are in Niger at almost 21. What does that average number actually mean? It is not, as you might expect, the expected marriage age for a person born today or the average of all married people, but rather what statisticians call a “singulate mean” (pdf)—a calculation similar to what is used for life expectancy. Basically, the researchers look at the likelihood of people alive today being married at every age from 15 to 54. They then use that to estimate an average for the population at this very moment. Marriage age is highly correlated with wealth. People in poorer countries like Malawi and Laos tend get married earlier than in richer countries like Norway and Singapore. As a country gets richer, the population tends to starts marrying later. For example, the average marriage age in China rose from just 22 for women and 24 for men in 1990, to 25 and 27 respectively in 2016—a period when the country experienced rapid economic growth. Not only does the age of marriage tend to get higher with more wealth, the age difference between men and women also declines. The difference in average age of marriage for men and women is less than 2 years in rich countries like Japan, Australia, and the US, but over 6 years in poorer Cameroon and Morocco. 🎧 For more intel on marriage in different parts of the world, listen to the Quartz Obsession podcast episode on Indian weddings. Or subscribe via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher. Economics don’t explain everything, though. The Netherlands and Austria have similar GDP per capita, but people in the Netherlands get married about five years later, and the average marriage age for women and men is a year closer. Demographic research suggests that, beyond income, education level and share of people who live in cities are important determinants of marriage age. And some of the difference is a matter of local culture and history, not easily explained by statistics.

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What is the correct age to have a girlfriend?

It's important to consider your child as an individual. Consider their emotional maturity and sense of responsibility. For many kids, 16 seems to be an appropriate age, but it may be entirely suitable for a mature 15-year-old to go on a date, or to make your immature 16-year-old wait a year or two.

When your child mentions dating, or a girlfriend or boyfriend, try to get an idea of what those concepts mean to them. Take note of how your child reacts when you discuss dating. It could be a little uncomfortable or embarrassing, but if your child is unable to even discuss it with you without getting defensive or upset, take that as a sign that they probably aren’t ready.

Other things to consider include the following.

Is your child really interested in someone in particular, or are they just trying to keep up with what friends are doing?

Do you think your son or daughter would tell you if something went wrong?

Is your child generally confident and happy?

Does your child’s physical development match their emotional development?

Be aware that for many tweens and young teenagers, dating amounts to socializing in a group. While there may be interest between two in particular, it’s not double-dating so much as a group heading out or meeting up at the movies or the mall. This kind of group stuff is a safe and healthy way to interact with members of the opposite sex without the awkwardness that a one-on-one scenario can bring. Think of it as dating with training wheels. So, when is a child ready for one-on-one dating? There’s no right answer. It’s important to consider your child as an individual. Consider their emotional maturity and sense of responsibility. For many kids, 16 seems to be an appropriate age, but it may be entirely suitable for a mature 15-year-old to go on a date, or to make your immature 16-year-old wait a year or two.

You can also consider what other parents are doing. Are lots of kids the same as yours already dating in the true sense of the word?

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