Age at first marriage, female in South Africa
South Africa: Age at first marriage, female was 27.2 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Age at first marriage, female in South Africa, 1980–2016
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Marriage Data 2019.
Analysis
The most recent figure for age at first marriage, female in South Africa is 27.2, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age at first marriage, female in South Africa peaked at 28 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 25.7, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 47th of 166 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Age at first marriage, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 25.7 | — |
| 1985 | 26.1 | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 26.8 | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 27.9 | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 26.9 | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 28 | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 28 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 27.2 | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25.9 | 25.7 | 26.1 | 2 |
| 1990s | 27.2 | 26.8 | 27.9 | 3 |
| 2000s | 28 | 28 | 28 | 1 |
| 2010s | 27.6 | 27.2 | 28 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 588,323 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 594,743 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 603,304 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age at first marriage, female in South Africa?
- Age at first marriage, female in South Africa was 27.2 in 2016, according to United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Marriage Data 2019.
- What is the highest age at first marriage, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 28 in 2003.
- What is the lowest age at first marriage, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.7 in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for age at first marriage, female?
- South Africa ranks 47th out of 166 countries with data for 2016.
- Is age at first marriage, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Marriage Data 2019, published as part of Age at first marriage, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Mean age at marriage, female shows the average length of single life expressed in years among those females who marry before age 50. It is a synthetic indicator calculated from marital status categories of men and women aged 15 to 54 at the census or survey date.