ગુજરાતી
English
Fatherhood at younger age and celibacy at older age increased
Dilip Patel
Ahmedabad, 7 July 2026
In Gujarat, the society has come to two sides regarding marriage. In one society, marriages are taking place at younger ages and on the other hand, the rate of not marrying at older ages has increased. Thus the social life of Gujarat is struggling with the problem of marriage. One gets married early while the other does not find a suitable partner.
teenage marriage
The rate of early marriage appears to be high. According to the National Family Health Survey, the rate of marriage before marriage among young women is 12.50 percent. Among the youth it was 24 percent. As moms and dads are getting younger, society is moving in a different direction.
In the 2011 census, there were 6.6 percent adolescent girls and 6.7 percent adolescent boys.
Thus, the Gujarat government enacted the Forced Marriage Act, but instead of reducing the rate of child marriage in 15 years, it has increased by 100 percent among teenage girls and 350 percent among youth.
In contrast, 30 to 34 years: 7.6% of men and 3% of women were unmarried. According to press reports, this ratio has now increased to 25 percent of men and 14 percent of women.
parents at an early age
5.6 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 are becoming pregnant. In which 3.4 percent women in cities and 7 percent women in villages are becoming mothers at a young age.
early marriage
18 percent of girls and 24 percent of young men are getting married before the marriageable age. In which girls aged between 20 to 24 years are getting married before the age of 18 years. 12.8 percent in cities and 21.4 percent in villages.
In Gujarat, 5.6 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 years are getting pregnant before marriage. Which is 3.4 percent in cities and 7 percent in villages.
young marriage
The proportion of youth marrying at an early age is 24.3 percent. In which it is 21.1 percent in cities and 26.90 percent in villages.
risk in teenagers
Becoming a mother at an early age doubles the risk of death due to anemia, internal bleeding during delivery, or medical emergencies.
Children are mostly born prematurely. The risk of deformities increases in newborn babies. Suffers from mental stress, depression and fear.
Government’s claim
The rate of early marriage in Gujarat has decreased significantly in the last few years.
better than before
In a survey conducted on women in the age group of 20 to 24 years in Gujarat, 21.8 percent of the women were married before the legal age of 18 years. In the previous survey (NFHS-4) it was 24.9 percent, which means there has been improvement.
27.7 percent of men aged 25 to 29 years got married before 21 years.
Due to education and awareness in cities, the rate of early marriage is very low i.e. about 14.2 percent. In 26.9 percent villages due to traditional mentality and economic reasons.
affected district
In Gujarat, cases of child marriage are particularly reported in rural areas with tribal population or in backward areas like Banaskantha, Dahod, Panchmahal, Anand and Sabarkantha. The number of secret marriages is increasing.
law on paper
The Child Marriage Prohibition Act 2006 is on paper. If caught in child marriage, the parents, Gore Maharaj and the elders present will be punished with rigorous imprisonment up to 2 years and a fine of Rs 1000. There is a provision of fine up to Rs 1 lakh. A ‘District Social Security Officer’ in each district of the state has been given powers as a Child Marriage Prohibition Officer. But they can’t do anything.
The government has recently tightened rules for official registration of all marriages in Gujarat to prevent underage marriages.
census
In the 2011 census, 6.6 percent of girls were married before the legal age of 18 years. In this matter both Gujarat and Maharashtra were similar.
Among boys, 6.7 percent were married before the legal age of 21. Which was one of the top states in the country.
marriage does not happen
According to 2011 census
15 to 19 years: 93.9% of males and 79.8% of females were unmarried.
20 to 24 years: 66.5% of men and 27.6% of women were unmarried.
25 to 29 years: 25.9% were men and 7.9% were women.
30 to 34 years: 7.6% of men and 3% of women were unmarried.
Over age 35: 2% had never been married.
Gujarat has seen a large increase in both the proportion and number of unmarried people (never married) aged 30 years and above in the last decade.
Proportion of unmarried people aged 30 to 35 years
There are about 17.75 lakh people in Gujarat who have not been married for 25 to 34 years. In which 9.16 lakh are men and 2.67 lakh are women.
There are approximately 7 unmarried men for every 2 unmarried women.
Reasons for not getting married
Lack of girls is the biggest reason for men. Especially in rural areas of Saurashtra and North Gujarat, girls are not ready to marry young men involved in farming or small business. They like urban settled youth.
The reason why women do not marry is economic freedom, right choices, higher education. It has become a personal choice.
According to a government report, the proportion of unmarried women above 15 years of age in Gujarat has increased from 18.2 percent in 2014 to 27.8 percent.
They do not hesitate to extend marriage beyond 32-35 years until they find a suitable and equal partner.
single peopleThe recorded figures for the districts are: Porbandar 7.48%, Navsari 7.22%, Junagadh 6.75%, Bharuch 6.61%, and Ahmedabad 6.93%. (Google translation from Gujarati; see original report)
