Changes in Singlehood Life Expectancy Using the Net Nuptiality Table in Iran, 2006-2011

Net nuptiality table with accounting mortality effect in addition to attrition due to marriage provides singlehood life expectancy or average expected years to marriage at different ages. Using the census data of the years 2006 and 2001, net nuptiality table were created for all ages (15-49 years) in two sub groups of literate and illiterate people. We found average expected years to marriage at birth for literate male and women is 26.33 and 24.18 respectively, about 0.7 years higher than 2006. Average expected years to marriage for illiterate people also increased in 2011, though it still shows fewer years than those with literacy. In addition, in 2011, years of waiting for marriage or death for all ages under 30 years is higher than 2006. However, this index is lower for ages 30 and over. These changes indicate increase in the percentage of delayed marriages during this period. The result of life table also showed over the period from 2006 to 2011, about 93 percent of male and female will marry by the age of 50 years old, 5 percent die before marriage, and 2 percent remain single.