The average age for Norwegians who get married is increasing and increasing. In 2023, women were on average 37 years old, while men were 40 years old when they said yes.
Published: 06/05/2024 10:47 | Updated: 06/05/2024 11:53
– There are many reasons why people wait longer to get married today. We take a longer education and concentrate on other things, such as work and career. Nor is it as important for most people to get married before having children, says demographer Anders Sønstebø at Statistics Norway (SSB).
Last year, the figures for marriages were barely 20,000. It is back at the same level as before the pandemic – in 2019.
In general, women who married last year were 37 years old, while men were 40 years old on average. The average age for those who marry for the first time was 35 years for women and 37 years for men. This is the highest ever, and a trend that has been going steadily for several decades. In 1974, women were under 23 years old on average and men just over 25 years old when they were forged in the chains of the hymen.
Both the number of separations and divorces increased somewhat last year, and were 9,200 and 8,500.
It is most common to take out a separation at a young age. Respectively, 46 and 42 per cent of newly separated men and women are in their 20s. The older people get, the more the chance of not getting divorced increases.
– Many of those who divorce in their 20s probably got married quite early. It is normal that you change more during your 20s than when you are over 50, says Sønstebø.
