Factors Affecting of Delaying Marriage among Girls in the Counties of Iran

In Iran, over the past three decades, the age at marriage for males and females has considerably increased. From the socio-demographic viewpoint, delaying marriage and changing marital patterns have many consequences and implications. Postponing of marriage affects the length of the childbearing period as well as the length of subsequent generations. The aim of this article is to explain the delaying marriage of girls in the context of socio-economic development and women's status changes in Iranian society. The research is the secondary analysis of the 2016 Iranian census for 428 counties. The results showed that in about 10 percent of under scrutiny counties delaying marriage for girls aged 25-29 years old is more than 30 percent. Based on the results, there is a specific geographical and cultural pattern in delaying girls' marriage in Iran. The experience of delaying girls' marriage in the western counties of the country is more than in other parts of Iran. The multivariate analysis indicated that the proportion of male singlehood, marriage squeeze, female autonomy, male unemployment rate and development level of the county, respectively, had the most effect on explaining delaying in the marriage of girls. Therefore, reducing developmental inequality, and improving men's employment status can help reduce girls’ marriage delays.