Changes in the Ideal Age at Marriage in Iran and its Determinants between 2004 and 2015

The age at marriage is an important factor in population dynamics that affects fertility, mortality and migration. Therefore, the present article studies changes in the pattern of the ideal age at marriage of girls and boys based on their demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The data have been drawn from the 2004 National Survey of Iranian Cultural Changes and the 2015 National Survey of Iranian Values and Attitudes. The findings show that the average age at marriage of girls and boys has increased by almost one year during this period. The average ideal age at marriage of girls has increased from 20.3 years in 2004 to 21.2 years in 2015 and the average ideal age at marriage of boys has increased from 24.8 years in 2004 to 25.7 years in 2015. The role of different variables have changed over the years but education has always been a key and effective factor in explaining the variation in the ideal age at marriage of both sexes compared to other variables. Job status and socio-economic status did not have an effect in 2004 but they were effective in 2015. Considering the importance of education and employment in the attitude towards marriage in recent years, we need to formulate supportive policies in these two areas in order to change the formation of family and facilitate marriage.