Data shows females in West Bengal have the lowest mean age during marriage

By: Yash Gupte

At the National level, the mean age at effective marriage for females is 22.1 years and varies from 21.7 years in rural areas to 23.3 years in urban areas. Among the bigger States/UTs, the mean age varies from 21.0 years in West Bengal to 25.3 years in Jammu & Kashmir.

The lowest marriage age among females was recorded in the state of West Bengal as the mean age of marriage for females below the age of 18 was recorded at 16.7 in West Bengal which means that majority of the girls in the state get married between the ages of 16-17 years.

The data on the mean age of females during marriage was filed in a report titled ‘Sample Registration System (SRS) statistical report’ published by the office of the Registrar general and census commissioner of India. Odisha ranked second in the lowest age of females at marriage as the state recorded the average age at 16.8. At the National level, the mean age at effective marriage for females is 22.1 years and varies from 21.7 years in rural areas to 23.3 years in urban areas. Among the bigger States/UTs, the mean age varies from 21.0 years in West Bengal to 25.3 years in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report contains estimates of various demographic, fertility and mortality indicators based on the data collected through the SRS sample survey. It also includes data on population composition by broad age groups, sex and marital status.

The accompanying chart shows the age of females during marriage in the rural areas of bigger states in India.

Source: Sample Registration System Bulletin, Office of the Registrar General of India

The highest total mean age of females during marriage in rural India was witnessed in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir as the state recorded the average age of marriage in females at 25.2 and the case was exactly opposite with the eastern state of West Bengal as the state reported the lowest total mean age of females at the time of marriage at 20.6. West Bengal was followed by Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as these states reported the mean age at 21.1 and 21.3 respectively. The data clearly shows that though India has been an independent nation for more than 75 years, child marriages are still prevalent in the country. West Bengal recorded the lowest mean age of females (below 18) during marriage at 16.7. The highest mean age was 17 which was recorded in majority of the states. Jammu & Kashmir reported the highest mean age of females above the age of 21 during marriage at 26.3.

Source: Sample Registration System Bulletin, Office of the Registrar General of India

The highest total mean age of females during marriage in urban India was recorded in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh as the state recorded the average age of marriage in females at 26 and the case was exactly opposite with the eastern state of West Bengal as the state reported the lowest total mean age of females at the time of marriage at 22.1. West Bengal was followed by Bihar and Andhra Pradesh as these states reported the mean age at 22.2 and 22.7 respectively. Bihar recorded the lowest mean age of females (below 18) during marriage at 16.8 in urban areas. The highest mean age was 17 which was recorded in majority of the states. Himachal Pradesh reported the highest mean age of females above the age of 21 during marriage at 27.1. It was followed by J&K and Punjab as these states reported the mean age of females during females in the same age group at 26.6 and 25.9 respectively.

The data suggests that the females in northern and hilly states of India have a high mean age during marriage as compared to other regions and states of India. West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan depict a different tale as these states have the lowest mean age of females at the time of marriage. Except Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, the other three states fall under the category of BIMARU states. Therefore, it can be said that low mean age of females during marriage in these states highlights the low socio-economic development in these states.