[ChuttyAmult]

In the UK and Sweden the average age of marriage is about 30 for males and 29 for females.

In the US it is about 27 for males and 25 for females, and in some Southern states 21-24 isn't uncommon.

Is this reflective of the US as a more conservative society than Western Europe, or other factors?

[Qynvtlur]

A good question I've pondered over too. The answer might be that young people in the USA get to material security faster than their counterparts in Old Europe? That sounds logical from the point of view of a Bulgarian.

[gardeniyas]

I think it has to do with education, studying, being succesful in a job taking longer in Europe. I know many girls who find it early to get married and having kids at 30.

[bredkumanfirst]

usually the more educated a population the lower the marriage age, Americans generally have more people with university degrees than most European nations, but...

It's not a mystery.

Americans are more religious, religious folks, especially rural ones marry earlier.

Has nothing to do with material security. Americans with very little marry all the time.

I don't think minorities are significant on this tread as the two largest minority groups African Americans (12% of the pop) and Hispanics (13%) have low marriage rates, about 70% of black kids born out of wedlock and 50% of Hispanics...although I can confirm that Hispanics do marry quite early, but this is usually recent immigrants (I'm guess over somewhere between 50-60% of Hispanics in America were not born in America).

[hexniks]

1) The American heartland is more traditional and conservative than Western Europe.
2) Non-whites, making up almost 40 % of the USA, generally get married earlier, especially first-generation immigrants.

---------- Post added 2010-09-28 at 15:25 ----------

The answer might be that young people in the USA get to material security faster than their counterparts in Old Europe?

This could also be a factor; housing in the United States is probably much more affordable than in densely populated Western Europe.

---------- Post added 2010-09-28 at 15:27 ----------

usually the more educated a population the lower the marriage age, Americans generally have more people with university degrees than most European nations, but...

Um, isn't it the other way around? Highly educated people usually get married later in life.

[cepAceryTem]

1) The American heartland is more traditional and conservative than Western Europe.
2) Non-whites, making up almost 40 % of the USA, generally get married earlier, especially first-generation immigrants.

---------- Post added 2010-09-28 at 15:25 ----------



This could also be a factor; housing in the United States is probably much more affordable than in densely populated Western Europe.

---------- Post added 2010-09-28 at 15:27 ----------



Um, isn't it the other way around? Highly educated people usually get married later in life.

Usually, but also take into account that even among the lower educated, Americans are far more religious. A lot of those folks marry early because they are virgins or the girls don't want to appear "slutty" this is very true in rural areas, many people marry right out of secondary school and have 2 or 3 kids by the time they are 25.

I don't see this in Europe...not often.

My point is that although Americans have "higher education" it is deceptive. The variation in educational achievement is much larger than in Europe, we have some of the least educated people of any industrialized nation and the most educated people in the same nation.

We also have a lot of religious fanatics, America's religiosity is more on terms with developing nations than any developed nation, and most of that is also concentrated in the lower classes.

Also you are correct, that housing is generally cheaper, less demand, more space.

You can be enormous houses in places like Texas for very little money, 6 bedroom house, with a huge yard (the likes of which most Western Europeans can't imagine) for US$250,000.

That is not the case in New York City of Washington D.C., but those cities are not normal for the United States either.

[KixdricyArrip]

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.

[MannyLopez]

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.

[zlopikanikanzax]

Cause religious identity is stronger in the USA

[bs44MhUW]

[Malinguenem]

As far as i know it's not against ABF policy posting in old threads.

[mirzaterak]

No, but QFQ is.

But - you don't seem to do that.

I often read old threads myself but doesn't reply to them because they are so old. And many of the people discussing have allready left the whole forum.

[RsQhyZyR]

No, but QFQ is.

But - you don't seem to do that.

I often read old threads myself but doesn't reply to them because they are so old. And many of the people discussing have allready left the whole forum.

Whats QFQ?

[Rwujnezq]

Whats QFQ?

i meant QBQ. Quantity before Quality.

You have done like 40 posts tonight in dead threads. But as you said, it's not against the rules, though a bit funny.

[Vomekayafboke]

Because social development/education is higher in europe.

[arerrurrY]

The real reason there was a stigma on anyone living with their parent past 18 years of age. This was very apparent as little as 10 years ago. Manhood and mooching off your parents were always good jokes about those still at home. I think this changed with the latest downturn in the economy. Also certain ethnic groups seemed to do this without the stigma , Italians, Hispanics and some others.

I remember my grandmother so upset I had a cousin who was 39 unmarried living along his 29 year old sister together with their parents. This was just awful to my grandmother. She really was ashamed. She would ask: Is he gay? Is she so bad with motherly duties no man wants her? It really was a terrible thing for the older generation.

[AutocadOemM]

They are more conservative i guess.In Europe it was similar just 20-30 years ago.My mom got married age 21 ,and dad age 23..i would never be ready to marry now!