5 Reasons Why Best Age for Marriage Matters
The best age for marriage is always the age at which you are legally allowed to get married, have the mental maturity, physical strength, and financial backing to have a successful marriage.
Western societies views on marriages aren't dictated by age.
A widely accepted view is that the right age for marriage is when you meet the right person.
However, in societies like India, where ancient traditions continue to co-exist along with modern ideas, there are practical reasons why men and women worry about the best age for getting married.
No matter what your personal belief is, here are 5 key reasons why you should even ask this question.
1. Medical reasons
The human body's ability to function normally peaks at a certain age and slowly starts to deteriorate as you grow older.
So how is this relevant for your marriage?
Marriage can mean the desire to start raising a family of your own. Hence your body should still have the capacity to start a family and the ability to bring up children.
Also, sexual relationship is an integral part of a marriage. Marrying at an age that will allow you to have a physical relationship is also a key factor in the success of a marriage.
2. Social reasons
In certain societies, the age for marriage is determined by the family and how orthodox they are in following social norms. Social norms emerge in societies over a period of time and the reason for the norm is often forgotten.
For example, in certain communities in India, a girl will become eligible for marriage the moment she attains puberty.
Sometimes, marriages are seen as a means to create a family bond or improve the financial position of the family. In such cases, the best age for marriage is dictated by reasons that have nothing to do with the boy or the girl.
3. Religious reasons
Different religions have differing views on what is the right age for marriage.
For example, in Islam, the best age for marriage is not just based on the whether the boy and the girl have reached puberty but contingent on the fact that both the boy and the girl are "mature" enough to get married and follow the rules of marriage.
Orthodox Jewish communities prefer marriage as soon as the man or the woman reaches 18 years of age.
4. Psychological reasons
The maturity of mind is a key factor that tells you if you are ready for marriage.
Some of the signs that tell if you are mature include your ability to make long term commitments and stick to it, a humble, down to earth approach to life, ability to handle praise and criticism well, capacity to prioritise goals, and not shying away from seeking help.
5. Time or Event
Sometimes, the right age for marriage is because you or your future spouse is running out of time.
People falling in love very late in their lives, boyfriend or girlfriend is diagnosed with a terminal illness and a life-changing event that just changes a couple's view on marriage. For example, some couples decided to get married after they survive a life-changing event such as an accident.
What Is the Best Age to Get Married According to Science?
There are several research studies that have attempted to determine the best age for marriage with the lowest possibility of divorce.
Based on the research done by the Institute of Family Studies, we have some answers for US and European countries.
In India, we don't have any research data on this topic, but the 2011 census has some insights.
1. Best age for marriage in the USA
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah has concluded that the best for marriage with the lowest possibility of a divorce is the 28 to 32 years age group.
2. Best age for marriage in Europe
In Britain and Germany, the best age to get married is when you are between 30 to 34 years old as divorce rates are lower in this age group five years after the marriage.
3. What is the right age to get married in India?
If you look at divorce stats from the 2011 census, the best age for marriage in India is in the 20 to 25 year age group as this age group has the lowest divorce rates. The age groups between 26 to 39 years have the highest divorce rates. Divorce rates go down from 40 years onwards.
The only issue with the census data is that the age of marriage associated with the people who were counted as divorced is not known. So we cannot conclusively determine the best age for marriage in India.
4. What's the best age for marriage based on medical reason?
The best age for marriage as determined by medical reasons can be a useful answer to consider if bearing children is a key outcome you expect from a marriage.
The only other reason medically approved marriage age should be considered is to find out if the person is mentally and emotionally ready for a long-term commitment.
There is no standardised test available to test mental and emotional readiness for marriage. However, psychiatrists have well-defined approaches to determine if the person is psychologically stable.
Mental issues can show up at any age and there is no evidence to prove that the possibility of mental illness or instability is the lowest at any age.
That leaves us one valid reason to consider what might be the best age to get married - the need to bear children.
Here are a couple of facts.
1. Women younger than 35 and men younger than 40 have the best chance of having healthy children. This is true for natural pregnancies as well as for IVF.
2. Women who are older than 35 have lower quality of eggs and fewer healthy eggs and men older than 40 have lower sperm quality and motility.
If having a child is a key requirement for marriage, you should marry no later than 35 years.Remember, you also need to be physically fit to care for young ones till they are old enough to take care of themselves.
Pros & Cons of Marriage Based on Age Group
Is 25 a good age to get married?
Is 35 too old to get married to a man?
Marriage at any legal age has its pros and cons. Here are some guidelines you can use depending on the age group you belong to.
Advantages: Healthy children, Stability Early in Life, Physical Strength For Large Family, Time to Pursue Interests After Children Grow Up
Disadvantages: May Not Be Mentally Ready, Inadequate Financial Stability, Could Limit Career Choices, Lack of Freedom to Pursue Personal Interests
Advantages: Healthy children, Time to Pursue Interests After Children Grow Up, Financial Stability, Mental Maturity
Disadvantages: Career Can Take a Backseat, Lack of Freedom to Pursue Personal Interests
Advantages: Financial Stability, Mental Maturity,
Disadvantages: Inflexibility in Habits, Fertility Issues, Potential Issues With In-Laws
Advantages: Mental Maturity, Financial Maturity, Clear Relationship Goals
Disadvantages: Infertility, Issues in Raising Children, Inflexibility to Change
Advantages: Financial Stability, Mental Maturity, Clear Relationship Goals, No Pressure to Conform to Traditions
Disadvantages: Infertility, Issues with Raising Children, Inflexibility to Change, Health Issues, May Be Against Social Norms
Best Age for Marriage - Men & Women
Here is a simple thumb rule you can use to calculate the age of marriage that's right for you.
Just answer the questions below.
Your answer should just be the age for every question.
Once you have answered all these questions, the oldest age is likely to be the best age for marriage.
Best age for marriage - Male
I will be financially independent at ... Years
I can either afford to own a home or rent a home when I am ... Years
I will know exactly what I want from marriage when I am ... Years
I will not regret losing my freedom to do what I please when I am ... Years
I prefer to have a relationship with one person when I am past ... Years
I think I may want to have a family of my own when I am ... Years
Best age for marriage - Female
I will be financially independent at ... Years
I will know exactly what I want from marriage when I am ... Years
I will not regret losing my freedom to do what I please when I am ... Years
I prefer to have a relationship with one person when I am past ... Years
I will be ready to take responsibility for my children when I am ... Years
Note: Ignore or replace any of the above criterion based on your preferences. For example, if you are seeking marriage and not have a child, you can ignore the question about children.
Legal Age for Marriage around the World
The legal age for marriage varies across countries. Remember, the best age for marriage cannot be lower than the legal age even if you are mentally and physically ready for marriage!
Let's look at the legal age for marriage in some of the largest countries.
Quiz: What's the average age of an Indian bride? Click to find out.
Legally marriageable age can be lower than the prescribed age with judicial consent. For more details about the legal age for marriage, please read this Wikipedia page.