Majority of Israelis marry by 25, most have first child by 27
Central Bureau of Statistic data finds women marry and have children at younger age than men; marriage rates higher among religious
Over 50 percent of Israelis marry before age 25, with marriage rates much higher among Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox than among secular Jews, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Among Israelis over 20 who are married, 26 percent married before age 21, 35% between 22 and 25, 23% between 26 and 30, and 14% were above 30.
Within the ultra-Orthodox community, 43% were married before 21 (30% of men and 56% of women), compared to 17% of secular Jews who were married by that age.
Marriage rates before age 21 were far higher among Arab women than Jewish ones — 59% versus 35%.
Furthermore, 41% of Arab women gave birth to their first child before age 21, as opposed to 19% of Jewish women. Those rates were far higher than among men, with only 5% and 7% of Jewish and Arab men, respectively, having their first child before 21.
The CBS data recorded a correlation between religiosity among Israelis Jews and deferring childbirth, with 36% of secular Jews having their first child at 30 or older, compared to 8% of ultra-Orthodox.
The statistics, which were part of the CBS’s 2018 Social Survey on residence, family and work balance, also included data on how many years married couples were together before divorcing; the number of Israelis aged 25-34 who live with their parents; and whether parents were happy with their life-work balance.
The CBS report also said over 91% of Israelis 65 and over have at least one grandchild, while only 19% become grandparents by age 49.
Among the ultra-Orthodox, 52% percent become grandparents before 50, compared to 11% of secular Jews.
