The Region with the Highest Average Age of Grooms and Brides is Seoul... Chungcheong Province is the Youngest

Statistics Korea's '2020 Marriage and Divorce Statistics' Examined by Region

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] A survey found that the average age at first marriage for both men and women is highest in Seoul and lowest in Chungbuk. The average age at remarriage was also highest in Seoul.

According to Statistics Korea's '2020 Marriage and Divorce Statistics' released on the 20th, the average age at first marriage was 33.2 years for men and 30.8 years for women. Compared to the previous year, the average age for men decreased by 0.1 years, while for women it increased by 0.2 years. The upward trend in men's average age at first marriage has been broken, marking the first decline since 1990. Statistics Korea explained that this decline is due to a decrease in marriages among men in their late 30s to 40s, as well as a sharp drop in international marriages involving relatively older men due to the impact of COVID-19.

Looking at the average age at first marriage by region, Seoul had the highest average age for men at 33.6 years, while Chungbuk had the lowest at 32.6 years. The average age at remarriage was also highest in Seoul at 51.3 years, and lowest in Ulsan at 49.4 years.

For women, Seoul had the highest average age at first marriage at 31.6 years, and Chungnam had the lowest at 30.0 years. The average age at remarriage was highest in Seoul at 48.0 years, and lowest in Chungnam and Gyeongbuk at 45.1 years.

The crude marriage rate, which indicates the number of marriages per 1,000 people, was highest in Sejong (5.3), Seoul (4.7), and Jeju (4.5), and lowest in Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk, and Jeonnam (3.4), followed by Daegu (3.5).

The proportion of marriages involving foreigners among all marriages was highest in Chungnam (8.6%), Jeonbuk, and Jeju (8.4%), and lowest in Sejong (3.2%), Daejeon (5.4%), and Busan (5.5%). The proportion of marriages with foreigners decreased in all cities and provinces compared to the previous year.

Looking at divorce rates by region, the crude divorce rate was highest in Jeju (2.6) and Chungnam and Incheon (2.4), and lowest in Seoul and Sejong (1.7), followed by Gwangju and Daegu (1.8). Among all divorces, the proportion involving foreigners was highest in Seoul (7.5%), Jeju (7.3%), and Gyeonggi (6.3%), and lowest in Sejong (3.7%) and Gangwon (3.9%).