Maariv reports on Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics releasing statistics (PDF) on the average age of men and women at the time of their first marriage.
| 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 24.1 | 24.8 | 26.0 | 26.9 |
| Women | 21.4 | 22.0 | 23.2 | 24.6 |
So it seems the average age for marriage is increasing; I’ll leave the speculations as to why to others. In the meantime, I have 3 days to get married before I’m officially over the hill.
Or I suppose I could just be “above average…”
Thanks to Danny for the link
With fast work, I can still come in as “average” seeing as how I turn 24.25 on Wednesday.
Thanks, Josh, for giving me something to strive
towards!
Does anyone else see the obvious match here? Josh and Meredith both want to get married on Wednesday? “Od Yishama, ny ny nyny ny ny ny.”
Oh well, maybe not. But if it ever happens, you saew it here first :-)
I have until 3:44pm on November 4. And you are very lucky you live in Israel, and not the Heights.
Dear Meredith,
In the spirit of seeing things in a positive light:
Thank you for your lovely zionist sentiments. the Heights is a warm and friendly community but I am indeed lucky to be in Israel.
Josh, would this be an inappropriate place to say “Im Yirtzeh Hashem by you”?
B’yididut, Danny
zionist sentiment or no, these figures are slightly skewed by 2 factors…
1. haredim
2. arabs
who both are an increasing proportion of the population, and tend to marry young. So, on the upside, you probably have a few more good months if you compare yourself to a more relevant peer group…
2 cents from an Israeli economist
-yair
Well, those stats make me feel good – I never liked being average, and who wants to show for below average!
1. Refer to my last comment
2. In responce to the comment of statistics: I do not think it is entirely accurate. a. While Arabs and Haredim might not be a proper “peer group” neither would chilomim, for who there exists many heterim not granted to us MOs. b. Also I Arabs were not included in Josh’s statistic, which was pulled from the Jewish column. c. And while Haredim do push things down a bit statistically they are a great minority and are notorius for not doing things by (or on) the books. d. Haredim are probably a better peer group than the mean Israeli. e. If you compare yourself to the average age of dati leumi couples you are ready to receive your ‘pensia’ (pension)
fair enough,
your points are well taken, except for the fact that it is exceedingly difficult to get married “off the books” especially when you want to draw a bituach leumi stipend.
Comparing oneself to dati leumi people is problematic for many reasons, as i’m sure Josh would agree as well :-)
yair
Happy birthday Josh! You can now join me in spinsterhood. Oh, wait. *sigh*
Never mind.
“I’ll leave the speculations as to why to others.”
Probably the same reason the average age at first marriage is increasing in the U.S. and nearly every other developed country.
Oh, and by the way: happy birthday!
Well Josh, if you look at average age at first marriage by level of education, you might just gain a few years. At least as far as your master’s degree is concerned. The rabbinical degree probably screwed you up a bit. On the third hand, if you just consider all clergy, you are greatly helped out by Catholic priests.
At almost two years your senior, Josh, let me welcome you to the exclusive club of the frightfully ancient. *cough*