Janell Fetterolf

1 month ago | pewresearch.org | Janell Fetterolf |Christine Huang |Jordan Lippert |Sofia Hernandez Ramones

We asked people in 18 mostly middle-income countries what they think is the best age to get married. On average, respondents say 25.9 years old is the ideal age for marriage. But opinions vary by country. For instance, Argentine adults say the best age to get married is 28.9 – on the older end when compared with other country averages. People in Chile, Colombia, Peru, South Africa and Tunisia also suggest ages on the older end, saying it is best to marry around 28 years old.

1 month ago | pewresearch.org | Janell Fetterolf |Christine Huang |Jordan Lippert |Sofia Hernandez Ramones

Across mostly middle-income survey countries, people say it’s ideal to be a spouse, parent and homeowner by 30, and to retire by 60How we did thisThis Pew Research Center analysis examines what people see as the best age to get married, have a first child, buy a home and retire.

1 month ago | pewresearch.org | Janell Fetterolf |Christine Huang |Jordan Lippert |Sofia Hernandez Ramones

People across the 18 mostly middle-income countries surveyed say, on average, that 26.1 is the best age to have a first child. There is a lot of agreement on this timing, and in most countries, average ideal ages fall between 25 and 27. But there are some that stand out. People in Tunisia say the ideal age to have a first child is just under 30, on the higher end of the average ages suggested. And adults in Argentina say it is best to have a child at 27.7 years old.

1 month ago | pewresearch.org | Janell Fetterolf |Christine Huang |Jordan Lippert |Sofia Hernandez Ramones

To help place the ideal ages provided by respondents in context, we compiled data on when in life people around the world actually get married, have their first child and become eligible for certain retirement benefits. Average age at first marriage comes from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Population Division. Data points come from different years, most recently 2019. Ages are calculated separately for men and women.

1 month ago | pewresearch.org | Janell Fetterolf |Christine Huang |Jordan Lippert |Sofia Hernandez Ramones

On average across 18 mostly middle-income countries surveyed, the ideal age for retirement is 57.9. Nigerians suggest the oldest ideal age for retirement (62.7, on average). Respondents in Ghana and Kenya also suggest a relatively high age (60.6 in each). Colombians give the youngest ideal age, saying 52.1 is the best age to retire. The ideal age is similarly low in Turkey (52.7).