Do Americans get married younger than Brits?

Question

It seems so from what I see on TV and on here...in the UK people dont normally marry till their late 20s or early 30s...yet kids seem to marry in the U.S in their late teens and early 20s! Is this true?

Answer 1

Don't believe all you see on TV.

I think some "kids" view getting married as a ticket out of their parents house and whatever teengage/young adult issues they have with being in their parents homes.  Some "kids" marry due to pregnancy (not all).

But there are plenty of people who wait til their late 20's or 30's before marrying  - - my fiance & I are in this group.  I'll be 34 and he will be 37.

Answer 2

They generally do. Probably because they're more stupid and far fatter...

Answer 3

You can't always believe what you see on TV.

Answer 4

Yes. American girls are brought up to believe in motherhood as being the epitome of female existence.

Millions of American girls want nothing more than to look like Barbara Bush and have a husband as rich as George Sr....and as unobservant as George Jnr.

They also have a fascination with malls that no other females in civilized societies share with them.  American women can deal in garbage in a way that on;ly eastern european gypsy girls can match.

Jerry...Jerry...Jerry...

Answer 5

well im british and will be 22 nearly 23  when we get married xx

Answer 6

Interesting...I would have thought the opposite.  But to me there is more of an age difference between couples in rural areas and those in suburban/urban areas.  I live in a small city and it's not unusual to see lots of couples in the 18-22 range getting married.  In the big city where I used to live, it was more like 26-30.  

Answer 7

It's a combination of a few different things.  A lot of people touched on the topic of religion.  I believe in some very religious communities (especially in the South/Bible Belt) it more of a tradition to marry young.   Education is second.   In some communities in the United States, a college education is still unattainable or not something considered a high priority.  Therefore, it's more common to marry young.  It's the next step.  

I'm 24 and I'll probably get married around 26..  I went to college and earned a bachelor's degree.  I'm also going to earn my Master's starting next year.   In my community, almost everyone I knew went to college.  It was actually looked down upon if you didn't. Recently, a few people I went to high school with have married or become engaged.  But, they all went to college and finished first.

I'm not sure what young people do after high school in the UK.  But, it depends on where you grew up in the US.   In some places in the country (where I live), almost 80% of people in the surronding communities went to college and hold a bachelor's degree.  So, I didn't have a option.  I had to go to college, if I wanted to survive here.

Answer 8

no not necessarily, it depends. in britain i think it is because europeans have different upbringing than americans. life in europe is much harder than in america so people wait to have money and a car and a house before getting married. in america all things r possible, its the land of milk and honey and anyone can achieve anything and especially the american dream, so people dont think twice when it comes to marriage..but again, america is a big country and people come from all corners of the earth including britain and UK, so what u heard might not b true.

Answer 9

Religious people tend to marry younger (no s*x before marriage and all that) and there are quite a few religious people in America (more than in England I would think).

Answer 10

I think that's the way it is in communities where a college education is not expected.  Most still wait until they are in their mid-20 to late 20s to marry.  

Answer 11

Only the first time.

Answer 12

Not generally true, we usually get married at the same ages as you guys over there, but in some of the southern states, they like to do it young for some reason.