DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Why is the average marriage age lower in the US than in Western Europe?

**MannyLopez** · 09-29-2010, 12:17 AM

I think attitudes towards marriage might play in. In Sweden it is not uncommon for couples to live as married ones do but not being married, and they don't get married because they see no reason, they know they love eachother anyway. Getting married is often viewed as something fun to do with your partner when you have money over, since extremely few get married due to religious reasons here.

Marriage isn't on top of most peoples' lists, getting a partner is though.

Yes, getting married seems to be a more important achievement to americans than to europeans is. There is other factor that makes some difference and it's the fact that americans tend to have more children than europeans do, even comparing "white" americans with ethnic populations of respective european countries ..the average for european countries would be around 1.3/1.35 children per couple (discounting foreigners who rise up the number in many western european countries) and in the US would be around 2.0. In this case i think religion plays a major role.

I think europeans are used to travel more and have a harder to imagine raising children and having a "normal" life in those traditional standards than americans are, which their society always seems to have positive views in good constituted families, as if it is a must to get married and have kids /family in order to be seen as succesful. Most europeans dont give a damn about that, it's just an option. Thats the main difference IMO.

09-29-2010, 12:17 AM	#8
MannyLopez Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 511 Senior Member	I think attitudes towards marriage might play in. In Sweden it is not uncommon for couples to live as married ones do but not being married, and they don't get married because they see no reason, they know they love eachother anyway. Getting married is often viewed as something fun to do with your partner when you have money over, since extremely few get married due to religious reasons here. Marriage isn't on top of most peoples' lists, getting a partner is though. Yes, getting married seems to be a more important achievement to americans than to europeans is. There is other factor that makes some difference and it's the fact that americans tend to have more children than europeans do, even comparing "white" americans with ethnic populations of respective european countries ..the average for european countries would be around 1.3/1.35 children per couple (discounting foreigners who rise up the number in many western european countries) and in the US would be around 2.0. In this case i think religion plays a major role. I think europeans are used to travel more and have a harder to imagine raising children and having a "normal" life in those traditional standards than americans are, which their society always seems to have positive views in good constituted families, as if it is a must to get married and have kids /family in order to be seen as succesful. Most europeans dont give a damn about that, it's just an option. Thats the main difference IMO.
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