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Best Marriage Age for Men and Women According to Science

Marriage is an extremely important and sensitive milestone in a person's life, as it not only creates a new relationship between two individuals but also intertwines their families, society, and future lives. However, answering the question of what age is best for marriage is not simple. From the perspectives of science, sociology, and psychology, the ideal age for marriage depends on physical maturity, mental readiness, education, financial stability, and the social environment.

In this blog post, we will systematically present surveys and statistics from various countries, historical perspectives on the concept of marriage age, current legal regulations, religious viewpoints, modern scientific research, and real-life experiences in simple language. The goal is to provide readers with a clear and realistic understanding of the optimal age for marriage, considering not only science but also cultural, social, and personal readiness factors. This detailed article of approximately 3000 words will help readers easily understand the depth and practical aspects of the topic.

Historical Context: From Ancient Times to the Middle Ages

The concept of marriage age is deeply intertwined with the history of human civilisation, and in ancient societies, this concept was quite different from what it is today. In ancient Greece, girls were generally married between the ages of 14 and 16, as physical maturity was considered the most important factor. However, the situation was different in warrior-based societies like Sparta—there, girls married around the age of 18 and boys around 25 so that both would be physically strong and capable of taking on responsibilities.

In the Roman Empire, marriage was linked to the interests of the state; Emperor Augustus introduced a law called 'Lex Papia Poppaea' to increase the population, which imposed fines on unmarried men and women who did not marry by a certain age. Under Roman law, the minimum legal age for marriage was 12 for girls and 14 for boys, which seems very young from today's perspective. Girls from the aristocratic class often married at a very young age, but for girls from the common and lower classes, marriage occurred somewhat later, towards the end of their teenage years. These examples show that throughout history, the age of marriage primarily depended on the needs of society, economic structures, and cultural beliefs.

In medieval Europe, significant changes occurred in marriage age and family structures, with the Roman Catholic Church playing a crucial role. The Church, in conjunction with the rural economic system known as manorialism, weakened large clan-based families and encouraged the formation of smaller nuclear families. This led to a decrease in the prevalence of early marriages, and people began to marry relatively later in life. In northwestern France in the ninth century, it was observed that families were becoming smaller, and young people were delaying marriage until they were financially stable.

The Church prohibited consanguineous marriages, which reduced the influence of powerful clans and increased the importance of personal choice and consent. In the twelfth century, the canon law scholar Gratian clarified that valid marital consent was not possible for girls under 12 years of age and boys under 14, although the concept of consent might exist at an earlier age.

In England, the Statute of Westminster of 1275 made sexual relations with a girl under the age of 10 a crime, which was an important step in protecting children. In reality, marriage at a very young age was rare in medieval England; in nearly a thousand marriage records from the Canterbury region between 1619 and 1660, only one instance of a 13-year-old girl's marriage was found, indicating that child marriage was not common in that society.

In the Slavic societies of Eastern Europe, the age of marriage primarily depended on tradition, agrarian lifestyle, and social needs. Girls were generally married between the ages of 13 and 15, as this age was considered the onset of physical maturity and suitable for starting a family. In Russia, until 1830, the legal age of consent for marriage was 15 for boys and 13 for girls, reflecting the social realities of the time.

On the other hand, ancient civilisations in Central America, such as the Aztec and Mayan societies, had a somewhat different approach to marriage. There, boys typically married between the ages of 20 and 22, as they needed to establish themselves as warriors, farmers, or craftsmen first. For girls, the age of marriage was approximately 15 to 18, when they were considered ready to fulfil physical and familial responsibilities.

These examples demonstrate that the age of marriage in different parts of the world was determined by local culture, economic structure, and social responsibilities, which varied from one region to another.

Religious Perspectives: Ancient to Modern

Religious beliefs and rules have played a significant role in determining the age of marriage for centuries, and this is clearly evident in Judaism. In ancient Israel, men were generally considered fit for marriage at the age of 20, as they were then physically capable and ready to assume social responsibilities. Rabbinic interpretations developed a specific concept of maturity, with the beginning of the 13th year for girls and the beginning of the 14th year for boys being considered indicators of mental and social maturity.

The Talmud discouraged excessive age gaps between husband and wife in order to maintain understanding and balance in marriage. Rabbinic Jewish law further states that boys cannot give legal consent to marriage before the age of 13 and one day, and girls before the age of 12 and one day, as they are not considered mature enough to make decisions before that age. These rules show that Judaism places importance not only on physical ability but also on mental readiness and responsibility.

In determining the age of marriage in Christianity, the Catholic Church has long followed the influence of Roman law. In ancient canon law, the minimum age of marriage for girls was set at 12 years and for boys at 14 years, which was considered to be in line with the social reality of the time. However, over time, as the concept of society, education and human rights changed, the Church also revised its position.

In 1917, Catholic canon law was amended to set the minimum age of marriage for girls at 14 years and for boys at 16 years, to ensure a somewhat greater physical and mental maturity. Later, in 1983, canon law was further amended, where more emphasis was placed on consent, responsibility and personal preparation for marriage.

The Eastern Christian Church also followed a similar age limit according to Canon 800. In addition, the Catholic Church, respecting the realities and laws of different countries, gives local bishops the power to set a higher age of marriage if necessary; for example, in countries such as Canada, England or Gambia, the minimum age of marriage has been raised in line with local social and legal structures.

In classical Islamic jurisprudence, the age of marriage was directly linked to puberty, as physical maturity was the main criterion. Hanafi scholars interpreted some verses of the Quran (such as 24:59 and 65:4) to indicate the onset of puberty as an indication of eligibility for marriage. On the other hand, Shafi'i, Hanbali, Maliki, and Ja'fari schools consider not only the onset of puberty, but also its completion and mental maturity as important conditions for marriage.

Over time, the law changed as the realities of Muslim society and social awareness increased. For example, in the Ottoman Empire, the age of marriage was first set by modern law in 1917, where it was set at 18 years for boys and 17 years for girls, although in some cases the minimum age was 12 for boys and 9 for girls. In most countries of the modern Middle East, the minimum age for marriage is now set at 15 to 16 years, to emphasize education and mental readiness.

A more recent example is Saudi Arabia, where in 2019 the legal minimum age for marriage was set at 18, showing that Islamic countries are also reforming their laws to take into account social, health, and human rights issues over time.

Different religious texts have different ideas about the age of marriage, which mainly reflect the social reality and cultural thinking of the time. In the Baha'i faith, the Kitab-i-Aqdas clearly states that the minimum age of marriage for both boys and girls is 15 years, i.e., a limit of physical and mental maturity has been set here without any distinction of gender.

On the other hand, the ancient Hindu scripture Manusmriti mentions a very low age for marriage by today's standards. It says that a girl can marry a 24-year-old man at the age of 8 or a 30-year-old man at the age of 12. These guidelines were related to the social structure of the time, average life expectancy, family responsibilities, and the idea of ​​​​preserving the lineage.

In modern times, these provisions are seen as a historical and religious context, because in today's society, the importance of education, health, and human rights has increased in most Hindu societies through law and social awareness.

Legal and Social Context in the Modern Era

The biggest change in the modern era is the legal minimum age for marriage, which is now 18 years in most countries around the world. Its main purpose is to give boys and girls the opportunity to mature physically, mentally and socially. In the 1962 “Convention on Consent to Marriage”, 55 countries around the world agreed to set a minimum age for marriage and emphasized that marriage must be based on full consent. Before that, the 1956 “Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery” called for setting an “appropriate” or suitable minimum age for marriage, to prevent forced and child marriage.

The international organization UNICEF has clearly identified child marriage as a human rights violation, as it harms children’s education, health and future prospects. Previously, the marriage age for girls was lower than that for boys in many countries, but with the strengthening of the concept of gender equality and human rights, the minimum age for marriage for boys and girls has now been equalized in most countries.

To prevent child marriage in India, the “Prohibition of Child Marriage Act” was enacted in 2006, where the minimum age of marriage for boys was set at 21 years and for girls at 18 years, so that both can become physically and mentally mature and start a responsible life. In order to bring gender equality in society, a bill was proposed in 2021, where it is said that the minimum marriage age for girls should also be increased to 21 years, although discussions and debates are still going on.

Looking at history, it can be seen that in colonial America, initially, according to the influence of English law, the age of marriage was considered to be 12 years for girls and 14 years for boys, but over time, with the increase in education, health and social awareness, this age limit was gradually increased to between 15 and 21 years.

Similarly, many European countries have also changed their laws, keeping in mind modern human rights and child protection; for example, Sweden in 2014 and Denmark in 2017 set the minimum age of marriage at 18 years for both boys and girls, which is currently accepted as a common standard in Europe.

The right to marry is generally associated with the state of adulthood, because then a person acquires the mental and legal capacity to make their own decisions. Although the age of adulthood is considered to be 18 years in most countries, in some countries it is set below 18 years or above 18 years, which depends on the law, culture and social reality of that country. For this reason, it can be seen that in some places the minimum age of marriage does not fully correspond to adulthood.

In some regions of North America, there is a special legal concept where if a minor is married, he is considered a legal adult in many cases. That is, through marriage, he is freed from the legal status of being under the control of his parents and gains the right to make his own contracts or make some decisions. The purpose of this system was to give legal protection and an independent identity to the married person, but in modern times, it is also controversial, because many believe that marriage, while minor, carries a risk of psychological and social harm.

Surveys and Statistics: Current Scenario

Recent surveys and statistics show that people's perceptions of the ideal age for marriage in modern society vary greatly from country to country. A survey conducted in 18 middle-income countries found that, on average, people consider 25.9 years to be the most suitable age for marriage. For example, in Argentina, this ideal age is around 28.9 years, and in countries like Chile, Colombia, Peru, South Africa and Tunisia, it is closer to 28 years.

In contrast, in Bangladesh, the average ideal age is only 21.2 years, and in India and Indonesia, most people consider the age below 25 to be suitable for marriage. According to the United Nations (UN), the average age of first marriage around the world is usually between 20 and 29 years. This difference is clear from country to country—in Bangladesh, most people marry before the age of 25, but in countries like Peru, the age of first marriage often falls between 30 and 34 years.

In general, Asian countries tend to marry at a relatively young age, while Latin American countries prefer to marry later. Gender-based analysis shows that men generally think about marriage at a slightly older age, while women do so at a relatively younger age. Again, there are differences by age—the older generation considers a younger age appropriate, while the younger generation wants to marry later. There is also an effect in education; highly educated people generally want to pursue their education and career before getting married, so their marriage age is higher. There is also a difference in religiosity—religious people decide to marry relatively earlier.

According to data from India in 2020, the average marriage age for men was about 28 years and for women about 25.3 years, i.e. an average of 26.7 years, where the age difference between husband and wife is usually between 3 and 5 years.

Scientific Research: The Goldilocks Theory and Others

Scientists have conducted many studies to determine the best age for marriage, and it is generally accepted that it is between 28 and 32 years old, which they refer to as the 'Goldilocks Theory'. According to this theory, at this age, people are mentally mature enough, have the ability to face life's challenges, but have not yet become stuck in any habits or permanent routines, so they can easily adapt to new relationships and responsibilities.

Psychology researcher Carrie Krawick says that at this age, people can truly adjust and understand, which is important for a happy marriage. According to another researcher, Alicia Taverner, after 25 years, people become mentally mature and become more responsible in managing marriage and relationships. Neuroscience also shows that the frontal lobe of the brain fully matures between the ages of 25 and 30, which increases the ability to reason, plan and solve problems.

Additionally, studies have shown that people who marry around the age of 25 are about 50% less likely to divorce than those who marry at the age of 20, indicating that emotional and social maturity play an important role in increasing the stability of marriage.

Various psychologists and researchers have studied the age and stability of marriage for a long time and have published different results. Nicholas Wolfinger's study found that if someone marries before the age of 32, the chance of divorce decreases by about 11% per year, but if they marry after 32, the chance of divorce increases by about 5% per year, which shows that there is some risk in marrying late.

Norval Glenn's study said that it is most appropriate to marry between the ages of 22 and 25, because at this time, people mature mentally and socially. Paul Amato has cited teenage marriage as the main reason for divorce, because people are not fully prepared physically and mentally at that time.

W. Bradford Wilcox said that the mid-20s or 'mid-twenties' are the best time for marriage, where there is sufficient maturity to manage a joint life. Mark Regnerus also shares a similar view in his research, saying that getting married around the age of 22 is the most stable and happiest marriage.

All these studies suggest that the right time to get married depends not only on physical but also on mental and social maturity, and it plays an important role in increasing the stability of married life.

Indian psychologist Nupur Dhakefalkar does not limit marriage to love alone; she says that for a true marriage, values, commitment to each other and emotional stability are very important. According to her, married life satisfaction is relatively high if you get married in your mid-20s or mid-20s, because then people are mentally mature and ready for a new relationship. One advantage of getting married around the age of 20 is that the couple can grow up together, but then there may be problems in dealing with life's changes and challenges.

On the other hand, getting married between the ages of 30 and 40 provides emotional and financial stability, which increases the durability of married life, but sometimes getting stuck in routine and habits can reduce the excitement or novelty of the relationship. In other words, choosing the age of marriage is not only based on love, but also depends on mental readiness, social and economic stability and the ability to manage married life, which helps ensure a happy and successful marriage in the long run.

Biological, Psychological and Social Considerations

Not only love, but many biological, psychological and social factors play an important role in determining the age of marriage. Biologically, it is seen that teenage pregnancy is risky and not fully mature physically, but physical maturity comes in the mid-20s or mid-20s, which is good for a healthy married life and children.

Psychologically, neuroscience research says that cognitive development is complete during this period, meaning people are more skilled in reasoning, planning and problem solving, which helps in the stability of marriage and relationships. The effect of education is also important; higher education makes people responsible and aware. As a result, marriage is often delayed, which benefits married life in the long run.

Economic stability increases understanding and harmony between couples, while socially in India, pressure from family, friends and society affects the timing of marriage. People generally marry late in urban areas, where educational opportunities, career and lifestyle freedom are more available, but in rural areas, marriages are earlier for traditional and social reasons. Recent changing trends show that the average age of marriage in India is gradually increasing, which indicates that people are now making marriage decisions based on personal readiness, education, economic stability, and emotional maturity.

Personal Experience and Conclusion

The age of marriage is not only based on knowledge or social statistics, but also on personal experience and preparation. The story of an Indian woman clearly highlights this point—she received a marriage proposal at the age of 24, but she was not mentally ready at that time and felt fear and hesitation about it. Later, at the age of 30, she got married voluntarily and became a mother at the age of 31, and she herself felt that the most suitable time is when a person is completely mentally and socially ready.

In conclusion, scientists and researchers generally mention the age of 22 to 32 as the ideal age for marriage, because at this time people are almost mature physically, mentally and socially. However, it always depends on personal preparation, because everyone's lifestyle, qualifications, ability to take responsibility and ability to adjust to marriage are different. Therefore, personal preparation, education, financial stability and mental maturity play the most important role in determining the right time for marriage, which ensures a happy and successful married life in the long run.

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