Why people around the world are waiting longer to get married

The recent news that marriage and motherhood after age 40 are on the rise in Kazakhstan is further evidence that the Central Asian nation, traditionally known for supporting early marriage, is not an isolated case but part of a global trend.

The age at which people choose to marry is reaching historic highs as economic pressures and cultural shifts reshape modern adulthood. A recent ranking by World Population Review highlights how rising housing costs, longer periods of higher education and demanding career paths are delaying family formation across the globe. From Southern Europe to East Asia, marriage is shifting from an early milestone to a deliberate choice that is increasingly being postponed until later in life.

Economic barriers and cultural shifts in Europe

In Southern European countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece, economic uncertainty and high housing costs in major cities have pushed the average age at first marriage for men past 35. Many young adults continue to live with their parents well into their 30s, while cohabitation has become an increasingly common alternative to marriage.

In contrast, Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Norway and Denmark have normalized long-term partnerships without formal marriage. Sweden has one of the world’s highest shares of births outside marriage while maintaining strong child well-being indicators, suggesting that delayed or less common legal marriage does not necessarily undermine family stability.

Demographic impacts across East Asia

East Asian economies are facing significant demographic challenges as marriage is increasingly delayed.

Read also: Love on hold: South Korea’s youth embrace late marriage.

Intense workplace competition and high housing costs in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have contributed to declining marriage rates. South Korea’s fertility rate has fallen below one child per woman, raising concerns about future labor shortages and the sustainability of pension systems.

Researchers project that by 2035, the average age at first marriage in major Asian and European cities could approach 40 for men.

Read also: Tokyo tries 4-day workweek to fix ailing birth rate.

Financial prerequisites and global shifts

In the U.S., marriage has increasingly become a decision made later in adulthood and often tied to financial stability. The median age at first marriage has risen by roughly eight years since 1970, with factors such as student debt and child care costs contributing to the trend.

The shift has also created a growing divide along socioeconomic lines, with college-educated Americans more likely to marry than people with lower incomes.

Meanwhile, changing social norms in the Middle East and rapid urbanization in Africa are reshaping marriage patterns, while expanded access to education for women has contributed to later marriage in many growing cities. Some Gulf governments have introduced financial incentives aimed at encouraging marriage.