7 Global Insights Into The 'Right Age For Marriage'

The numbers show marriage timing is more about values than age.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | May 19, 2025

When it comes to love and marriage, timing isn't everything — until it is. Ask anyone in their 20s or 30s, and you'll hear the same quiet panic: Am I too early? Too late?

In a world that glorifies independence but still romanticizes lifelong commitment, the question of when to get married carries weight. Your age can shape your chances of happiness, lower your odds of divorce and even how your partner or their family perceives you. And across the globe, people are answering that question in wildly different ways.

Here are seven brief, yet telling, insights from Pew's survey of 18 countries that might just upend what you thought you knew — and what it might mean for you.

1. The World Agrees: 26 Is The 'Just Right' Average

Across the 18 middle-income countries surveyed, respondents say the ideal age to get married is 25.9. In an age where adulthood keeps getting delayed, with careers taking longer to build and independence taking center stage, this average might seem surprisingly early.

2. Argentina Tops The List At Nearly 29

Argentine adults gave the highest average: 28.9. Other countries that lean toward later marriage include Chile, Colombia, Peru, South Africa and Tunisia — all hovering around the 28 mark.

3. Bangladesh Says 21.2 Is Ideal — And Many Say Under 20

The lowest national average came from Bangladesh, where cultural norms still favor early marriage. A majority of adults there said the best age to marry is under 25, and a significant portion said even younger is better.

4. Peruvians Are In No Rush

Only 11% of Peruvians say it's ideal to marry before 25. In contrast, 39% believe the sweet spot is between 30 and 34 — and 10% say you should wait until at least 35. This makes Peru one of the most late-marriage-friendly countries in the dataset.

5. Asia Leans Younger, Latin America Leans Older

In broad strokes, Asian countries like India, Indonesia and Bangladesh favor earlier marriage, often under 25. Meanwhile, Latin American countries tend to push that number closer to 30, possibly reflecting deeper cultural divides in how relationships are viewed.

6. Men Say 'Later,' Women Say 'Sooner'

n nearly every country surveyed, men reported a later ideal marriage age than women, which is a pattern that mirrors real-world trends. Whether due to social norms, career timing or even biology, men consistently marry later than women on average.

7. The More Religious You Are, The Earlier You Think Marriage Should Happen

In 11 countries, people who said religion is very important to them also said marriage should happen earlier in life. That pattern held regardless of geography, suggesting a global link between religious intensity and early commitment.

So, What Is the Right Age For You To Get Married?

If you're asking whether you're too early or too late, you're already asking the wrong question. The real question is: Whose timeline are you on?

Is it yours — shaped by your experiences, values and readiness? Or is it someone else's — influenced by cultural expectations, family pressures or societal norms?

Sociologist Nicholas H. Wolfinger analyzed data from the National Survey of Family Growth and found that Americans who marry between the ages of 28 and 32 have the lowest risk of divorce. Marrying before 28 or after 32 increases the risk of divorce, with each year after 32 adding approximately a 5% increase in divorce risk .

But these are statistical trends, not personal mandates. They don't account for your unique circumstances, emotional maturity or the quality of your relationship. The Pew survey across 18 countries reveals a global average ideal marriage age of 25.9, with significant variations — from 21.2 in Bangladesh to 28.9 in Argentina. These differences highlight how cultural, religious and societal factors influence perceptions of the "right" age to marry.

So, instead of fixating on a number, try to reflect on your motivations. Are you considering marriage because you're ready to build a life with someone, or because you feel pressured by external expectations? Remember, the "right age to marry" is less about hitting a societal milestone and more about aligning with your personal readiness and values.

Think your relationship is happy and marriage-ready? The Relationship Flourishing Scale will reveal whether it's truly thriving, or just surviving.

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.