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The average age at which South Africans get married is increasing, with the average age at the time of a first marriage now being in a person’s 30s.

This is according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), which analysed census data since 1996.

According to Stats SA, in 1996 the average age at which people got married for the first time was 29, but this had increased to 32 by 2022.

The chart below shows how the average age at which people get married for the first time has increased since 1996.

Men tend to have their first marriage at an older age than women, although the average age has increased for both sexes over the past 30 years.

The chart below shows the increase in age, for each sex, for the first time they get married.

White people had the lowest average age for first marriage of South Africa’s four main population groups, while black South Africans had the highest. In 2022 the average age of first marriage for white people was 27.9 while for black people it was 32.3.

The chart below shows how the average age of first marriage for black, Coloured, Indian, and white South Africans has changed over the past 30 years.

The change in the average age at which people get married is part of a broader societal shift, with South Africa’s fertility rate also declining. The Common Sense has previously reported on the fact that the country’s fertility rate (the average number of babies which each woman has) is now at a level that will only keep the population stable. If it falls further from the current level of 2.1, South Africa’s population will begin to shrink.

In addition, the proportion of households headed by women has also increased significantly over the past 30 years. As The Common Sense reported previously, the proportion of households headed by women increased from 44.7% in 1996 to 57.1% in 2022.

Taken together, these trends point to a changing South African household. People are marrying later, women are having fewer children, and a larger share of households are headed by women. The implications extend beyond marriage itself.

Over time, sustained lower fertility could reshape demand for schools and housing and reduce the number of young people entering the workforce. Smaller families may also leave fewer adult children to support ageing parents, increasing the importance of retirement savings and access to care. These demographic shifts will therefore matter to families planning their finances, businesses anticipating future demand, and public services preparing for a population with different needs.

And South Africa is not alone in experiencing this phenomenon, with many countries around the world seeing fewer people getting married, or married later, with fertility rates around the world also declining. One of the primary problems that could face the world in the 21st century is that of a declining global population.