Mukesh Kaushik | New Delhi18 minutes ago
A report by the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) has claimed that the average age of marriage for women in India has risen from 19.3 years to 23.1 years. Women now marry at an average age of 24.4 years in urban areas and 22.6 years in rural areas.
The government introduced a bill in 2021 to raise the legal marriage age for women to 21 years, but it lapsed after the Lok Sabha was dissolved. A final decision in the matter is now expected after the 2027 Census.
The Census will help the government assess whether:
1. Higher education is delaying marriage.
2. Delayed marriage is reducing fertility.
3. Housing costs, unemployment, and migration are contributing factors.
4. India is witnessing East Asia-like trends of delayed marriage and falling birth rates.
5. Policy changes are needed in population, education, maternal health, and employment.
Which states have the highest and lowest average marriage age?
Highest average marriage age:
1. Jammu & Kashmir – 26.3 years
2. Delhi – 24.6 years
3. Himachal Pradesh – 24.3 years
4. Uttarakhand – 23.8 years
5. Tamil Nadu – 23.8 years
Lowest average marriage age:
1. West Bengal – 21.6 years
2. Bihar – 21.7 years
3. Assam – 22.7 years
4. Rajasthan – 22.7 years
5. Andhra Pradesh – 22.8 years
Key findings of the NFHS survey
The Sample Registration Survey (SRS) provided data on the average age at marriage. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) measured the share of women aged 20–24 who were married before 18, and men aged 25–29 who were married before 21. It also collected data on marital status across different age groups.
What is the link between marriage age and fertility?
India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has fallen to 1.9, with 1.5 in urban areas and 2.1 in rural areas. Experts say that as women marry later, their reproductive years become shorter, leading to a decline in birth rates.
How has delayed marriage affected India’s population?
The population of children aged 0–14 has declined by 24%. The working-age population has increased to 66.4%. People aged 60 years and above now account for 9.7% of the population.
