Age at Marriage in India: Still an Enigma to be Solved

A. A. Jayachandran, Population Foundation of India
Sarbani Banerjee, University of Groningen

According to recent National Family Health Survey-2, the median age at first cohabitation in India is found to be 17.4 for women age 20-49 with a low of 16.8 for women age 40-49 to a high of 18.3 for women age 20-24, suggesting a modest increase of 1.5 years over the period of about 23 years. In this paper, we assess possible determinants that hinder the process marrying at a later age. Data is taken from NFHS-2 (1998-99) and NFHS-1. The statistical analysis brings out women's low status, high rates of early school drop out, and low socioeconomic condition. These factors contribute to marriage at early ages. The enigma can be solved only if we remove the negative stigma attached to marriage