Archive · 27 Jul 2025
Marriage Declines Among Youth: A Global Shift
More and more young people are deciding not to get married.
They worry about money, how much work women do, and wanting to be independent.
This is happening worldwide, like in the UK and South Korea.
Some people are afraid of divorce and the pressure to marry.
Governments are even offering money to encourage people to date and get married because birth rates are dropping.
People still want to be with others, but they are finding other ways to do that.
Young people are increasingly choosing not to marry, a trend seen globally, including in the UK and South Korea.
Reasons cited include financial burdens, unequal division of labor in marriages, and a desire for greater financial and personal autonomy.
Financial independence for women enables better marriages or the option to avoid unhappy ones, according to financial advisors.
Rising divorce rates and societal pressures contribute to the hesitancy towards marriage among younger generations.
Some governments are offering financial incentives to encourage relationships and marriage in response to declining birth rates.
- Who
- Young adults and millennials.
- What
- Young people are increasingly choosing not to marry.
- When
- The trend is ongoing, with recent data from 2022-2024 highlighting the shift.
- Where
- Globally, including the UK, South Korea, and India.
- Why
- Due to financial burdens, societal pressures, desire for autonomy, and rising divorce rates.
Societal Expectations vs. Individual Autonomy
Individual Empowerment
Priorities
Societal Expectations vs. Individual Autonomy
Traditional societal expectations emphasize marriage as a societal norm and a path to security.
Individual Empowerment
Young people prioritize personal and financial independence, and are less inclined to marry.
Marriage as a societal construct
Societal Expectations vs. Individual Autonomy
Marriage is considered the foundation of a family, provides social acceptance, and guarantees financial and social security.
Individual Empowerment
Marriage is no longer seen as the only route to fulfillment, societal approval, or security.
- UK Unmarried (25-35)
- Increased from 2.7M (1991) to 5.8M (2023)
- South Korea Unmarried (30s)
- 51% (2023)
- South Korean Women Interest in Dating
- 38% (2019)
- Divorce Rate Increase (Urban Men)
- 0.3% to 0.5% (2017-18 to 2023-24)
- Divorce Rate Increase (Urban Women)
- 0.6% to 0.7% (2017-18 to 2023-24)