The marriageable age (or marriage age) refers to the minimum age at which a couple can legally wed, whether determined by law or by parental, religious, or other societal acceptability. While the legal marriage age and other conditions may differ from one jurisdiction to another, in the majority of these, the age of the majority is the deciding factor.
The average age of a bride and groom is 18, but this might be greater or lower depending on the culture. However, most legal systems permit marriage for those under 18 with parental or judicial consent, and in certain places, even those under 18 if the pregnant wife is a minor. While the legal age of majority and the age of consent may coincide in many countries, these concepts are not synonymous with the marriageable age.
Legal Age for Marriage in the United States
In the United States, a person can’t get married until they’ve reached the age of majority (18 in most states), although there are exceptions for minors who have parental permission or other forms of legal consent. Each state and territory determines this age for themselves by statute or common law.
Except for the states of Nebraska and Mississippi, where the legal age to marry is 19 and 21, respectively, the legal marriage age is 18. The age of majority and the usual marriage age tend to coincide, although in Alabama, the general marriage age is 18, and the age of majority is 19.
Legal Age for Marriage in Japan
Until recently the legal ages for marriage in Japan were 16 for girls and 18 for boys.
Girls, however, needed parental permission to marry at 16, while both boys and girls could marry at 18. Any Japanese citizen above eighteen can now get married without their parent’s permission beginning in 2022.When Japan is experiencing a demographic problem, lawmakers say the goal is to give young people greater responsibility by involving them sooner in public society. Japanese lawmakers are also considering raising the age ofconsent to 16. Presently the age for consent in Japan is 13. Both the legal age for marriage and the age of consent have not been changed for many years and they thought it is now necessary to change them because of the change in society and because of criticism and suggestions from other countries and United Nations. Those under the age of twenty will still be unable to buy cigarettes or alcohol (even in bars and restaurants) or participate in gambling.
While most financial institutions will grant a credit card to an applicant as young as 18, you’ll need your parent’s permission to use it until you turn 20.
Legal Age for Marriage in Europe
The age of majority and the age at which one can legally get married in every Member State is 18; the only exception is Scotland, where both the age of marriage and the age at which one can legally be married are 16.
With parental and/or judicial/administrative approval, minors can get married in most countries. The CRC Committee recommends that no country permit marriage before age 18, yet only Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden do so (Poland does, too, but only for men).
In the vast majority of EU countries, 16 is the minimum age at which a couple can get married with the approval of bothparents or a government body. Only in Estonia is 15 years of age the legal minimum. None of these countries mandates a minimum age to get married: Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Slovenia.
In Poland, the law treats men and women differently; whereas women can legally marry at 16, men cannot.
There are exceptions to the mandatory minimum age in several Member States. A child in Lithuania can legally marry with parental approval after they reach the age of 16. However, if the teenage teenager is pregnant, the court may grant the marriage before then. A judge in a Croatian civil court will rule that a 16-year-old can get married provided they are of sufficient age and maturity and if the marriage will not endanger the minor’s health or safety.
