ULAN BATOR, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The average age at first marriage in Mongolia has steadily increased over the past 25 years, reflecting a persistent shift toward later marriage and family formation, a study released by the country's National Statistics Office (NSO) showed.
In 2000, men in Mongolia married for the first time at an average age of 25.7, while women did so at 23.7. By 2025, those figures had risen to 29.5 and 27.5, respectively. This represents an increase of approximately 3.8 years in the average age at first marriage for both men and women over the 25-year period, according to the study.
NSO experts attribute the trend in part to greater access to education.
As young people spend more time pursuing higher education, gaining professional qualifications and establishing themselves in the labor market, they are increasingly postponing marriage and starting a family.
At the same time, changing social values and a growing emphasis on individual choice are also contributing to the trend, with people taking longer to make decisions about marriage and family formation. ■
