On average Greeks are getting married for the first time in their early thirties says European Union’s statistical body, Eurostat.
The data revealed that men in Greece get married for the first time at an average age of 32.4, while women tie the knot at 30.9 years old.
The average age for first-time marriage in Europe has gone up significantly in recent decades. In the EU, the average age of first marriage is approximately 40.7 years for women and 33.1 years for men.
This comes as there is a divide between the West and East of Europe, with men and women getting married at a younger age in the latter.
In almost every country in Western Europe, men are over 30 when they decide to settle down at an average age of over 36.
Sweden, Spain, Norway and France are all over an average of 36, with Sweden at 37.5.
For women, it’s over or close to 30 with an average of over 34.
In the Eastern countries it is different, women get married for the first time at younger ages and so to do men, who in some countries like Belarus, Turkey, Ukraine and North Macedonia, marry for the first time before they turn 30.
As for why the average age of marriage in Europe has risen?
This can be attributed to various social, economic, and cultural factors with some key factors including education and career; economic independence; a shift in social norms regarding to living together before marriage; stability and maturity with more choosing to delay marriage until they feel more financially and mentally stable; and a rise in life expectancy.