A study by matrimonial site Jeevansathi.com reveals that women are keen to get married before they reach the age of 25.
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat witness the highest percentage of marriages of girls under the age of 25. In Kerala 64 per cent, in Gujarat, 54 per cent and in Andhra Pradesh, 53 per cent of girls get married before they turn 25.
Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have also witnessed an increase in girls opting for early marriages. On the flip side if we look at maximum under-25 marriages among men, then Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana take the lead.
Commenting on the findings, Rohit Manghnani, who has taken over as the business head at Jeevansathi.com, said, “While it’s a common belief that women today are comfortable with late marriages, the survey shows that most young women wish to get married before reaching the age of 25. This could be due to various socio-economic factors and also due to a personal need for companionship.”
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Percentage of females getting married under 25
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2010
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2012
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Kerala
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56%
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64%
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Andhra Pradesh
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50%
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53%
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Gujarat
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45%
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54%
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Karnataka
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42%
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46%
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Punjab
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40%
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52%
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Maharashtra
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40%
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44%
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Madhya Pradesh
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39%
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49%
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Uttar Pradesh
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37%
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48%
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Tamil Nadu
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34%
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53%
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Delhi
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32%
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46%
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A look at the table shows that the last two years has seen a shift in the age of marriage. Almost all states show more than 10 per cent increase in girls getting married under the age of 25. Tamil Nadu, especially, has taken the lead with 19 per cent increase in the last two years. While some of this may be due to cultural factors, it may also be attributed to early employment opportunities or lack of them in some states.
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