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Marriage

The Challenge

In the Middle East, marriage and family formation are significant milestones for young people in their transition to adulthood.  A generation ago, marriage was both early and universal - 63 percent of Middle Eastern men when reaching  their mid- to late 20s were married. Today, as a result of economic hardship and high financial costs of marriage which fall largely on the groom, nearly 50 percent of men between the ages of 25 and 29 are unmarried. Lack of affordable housing is also another important factor that contributes to this delay since more couples desire independent housing after marriage. While delay in  marriage can lower fertility and expand women’s opportunities for education and work, the involuntary delay in marriage is generating new social and economic difficulties protracting young people's transition to independence.

The Opportunity

Policymakers and researchers need to pay more attention to the issue of delayed marriage and seek better understanding of its significance on young people's lives. As more young people delay marriage, the institution of marriage is changing and new marriage “substitutes” and norms are emerging to replace its traditional definition. Paying attention to the housing market can play an important role in determining new ways to alleviate financial costs and encourage youth to become fully independent and start a family.   

A Fact

In Iran, 38 percent of 25-to-29-year-old men are unmarried, the largest pool of unattached males in Iranian history.


 Source: Julio Etchart, 2002, World BankPersonal Journey


Today Mu’aadh a 29 year old, and a couple of his siblings are of marriageable age. “In Yemen marriage is like the biggest project in your life,” he explains. “The family and extended family helps, and some opt for marrying cousins and relatives because it’s a way to alleviate the financial pressure.  Read more... 

 

 


 

 


The Wedding Shortage

1 Mar 2007
Hizbullah may be calling protesters into the streets of Beirut. But Mazen Younes, a 26-year-old Lebanese marketing researcher, is more interested in getting married. Having a job that pays $2,000 a month--three times more than average--has a lot to do with it. That means, he says, "I may be able to marry before turning 30."
The Economic Imperatives of Marriage: Emerging Practices and Identities Among Youth in the Middle East
12 Dec 2007, Diane Singerman
If adulthood equals marriage in the Middle East, exclusion from marriage or delayed marriage compromises full participation in society.
Youth Exclusion in Egypt: In Search of "Second Chances"
12 Dec 2007, Ragui Assad and Ghada Barsoum
The challenge of youth exclusion in Egypt is multidimensional; despite progress on some fronts, serious challenges remain for young people.
Youth Exclusion in Iran: The State of Education, Employment and Family Formation
12 Dec 2007, Djavad Salehi-Isfehani and Daniel Egel
While the youth bulge has exacerbated the challenges facing young people in Iran, it is not the root cause of youth exclusion.
Public Event at Brookings on Middle East Youth Inclusion
7 January 2008
Washington DC, USA
The Middle East Youth Initiative is a public briefing on January 7, 2:30 - 5:00, in the Falk Auditorium at the Brookings Institution, Washington DC.