The age difference between spouses: Cross-national and within-country variations

This thesis examines the spousal age difference, which is defined as the male age at marriage minus the female age at marriage. Considerable variation is identified both between and within countries in the average age difference, as well as in its constituent parts. In addition, a greater association is observed cross-nationally between the age difference and the age at which females rather than males marry, while within countries, there is evidence of the opposite pattern. Several hypotheses have been proposed in the literature in an attempt to explain the variations in the age difference. However, these hypotheses have seldom been examined. This thesis examines three of the most common, theoretically complementary hypotheses. These are (1) that variations in the age difference reflect the age-sex structure of men and women eligible to marry; (2) the age difference is a by-product of factors associated with the timing of marriage; and (3) that the age difference reflects the status of women, which is associated with the idea that there are preferences regarding the age difference. The thesis begins by using aggregate-level data from the United Nations; WISTAT3 database to consider cross-national variations in the average age difference. The hypothesis that these variations reflect the status of women is then examined by considering associations between the age difference and hypothesised indicators of women’s status. Given the continuing debate surrounding how women’s status is conceptualised and measured, this analysis interprets women’s status in several different ways. Some evidence in support of this hypothesis is observed, but not when considered in light of the association between female age at marriage and, in turn, the age difference and women’s status. This thesis concludes that variations in the age difference tend to reflect the age-sex structure of men and women marrying. However, it is unlikely that these variations are also a by-product of factors associated with marriage timing. In addition, this thesis finds little evidence to support the popular women’s status hypothesis, especially when considered net of the association between the age difference and women’s age at marriage.