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The average marriage age for South Korean women was consistently in their 20s for decades, but statistics showed a shifting trend where women are now getting married in their 30s.
According to Statistics Korea, the number of women married for the first time in their 30s surpassed women married in their 20s as of 2021. This is the first time in 31 years, since 1990 when the agency started to compile related data.
In 2021, the total number of reported marriages was 193,000, and of this number, women married for the first time was 157,000.
Analyzing cases by age for first-time marriages, 76,900 cases involved women in their 30s, which accounted for 49.1 percent or almost half of the total number of cases. Followed by 71,263 in their 20s; 6,564 in their 40s; 798 in their teens and 724 in their 50s.
Number of first marriages for women in their 20s and 30s (Korean Statistical Information Service)
In the 1990s, the number of first-time marriages for women in their 20s was 333,000 while first-time marriages in their 30s was only 19,000. The number of first-time marriages for women in their 20s decreased to 173,000 in 2010, and for women in their 30s it was 85,000, almost two times less than women in their 20s.
As for men, the first-time marriage age already changed in 2005, with 121,000 in their 30s and 119,000 being in their 20s.
The average age of first-time marriage was 31.1 years for women and 33.4 years for men, as of 2021. Compared to the average age of first-time marriage in 1991, 30 years ago -- 24.8 for women and 27.9 for men – women and men now wait 6.3 years and 5.5 years, respectively.
In addition, the number of marriages in 2021 fell below 200,000 for the first time since 1990, recorded as the lowest statistic ever. The number of marriages, which exceeded 400,000 in the 1990s, continued to decline to 300,000 in the 2000s and to 200,000 ten years later, before falling to 193,000 as of 2021.
As a seasoned sociologist specializing in demographic trends and marriage dynamics, my extensive expertise in the field allows me to shed light on the intriguing shift in marriage age patterns among South Korean women, as highlighted in the provided article.
Firstly, the statistical data from Statistics Korea serves as robust evidence of the evolving marriage landscape in South Korea. The fact that the average marriage age for women has transitioned from consistently being in their 20s to a significant number now marrying in their 30s is a groundbreaking development. This trend is not merely a short-term anomaly but represents a fundamental shift, supported by 31 years of compiled data since 1990.
Analyzing the data for 2021, where the total reported marriages were 193,000, and women marrying for the first time accounted for 157,000 cases, it becomes evident that a substantial portion of these first-time marriages involved women in their 30s. With 76,900 cases or 49.1 percent falling in this age group, it indicates a noteworthy demographic shift challenging traditional marriage age norms.
Comparing this to historical data from the 1990s provides a deeper understanding of the transformation. In that era, the number of first-time marriages for women in their 20s far surpassed those in their 30s, with 333,000 and 19,000, respectively. Fast forward to 2021, and the dynamics have dramatically changed, with women in their 30s leading in first-time marriages.
The statistics on the average age of first-time marriages for both women and men further solidify the narrative. In 2021, the average age was 31.1 for women and 33.4 for men, a significant increase compared to the figures from 1991—24.8 for women and 27.9 for men. This signifies a cultural shift where individuals are choosing to delay marriage, waiting 6.3 years longer for women and 5.5 years longer for men compared to three decades ago.
Moreover, the noteworthy point about the overall decline in the number of marriages in 2021 is crucial. The figure dropping below 200,000 for the first time since 1990, with a recorded low of 193,000, underscores a broader societal change. From the peak of over 400,000 marriages in the 1990s to the current decline, it reflects a complex interplay of social, economic, and cultural factors shaping the institution of marriage in South Korea.
In conclusion, the evidence presented in the article highlights a substantial and sustained shift in marriage age patterns in South Korea, particularly among women. This change not only challenges long-standing norms but also reflects the evolving dynamics of societal attitudes towards marriage.
