Decline in average age for women entering same-sex marriages
Between
2013 and
2023, the
average age of women entering same-
sex marriages in France showed a consistent decline, from
43.0 years to
39.4 years. This trend indicates a shift towards younger women choosing to marry, reflecting a
3.6-year decrease over the decade.
Stability in men's average age at marriage
Contrastingly, the average age of men entering same-sex marriages remained relatively stable during the same period, fluctuating slightly around a mean value. It peaked at
49.8 years in
2013 but then stabilized, with a slight decrease to
44.7 years by
2023. This demonstrates a
5.1-year decrease, suggesting a gradual but less pronounced change in the demographics of men marrying.
Narrowing age gap between genders
The age gap between men and women at the time of entering same-sex marriages has narrowed significantly over the years. In
2013, the gap was
6.8 years, with men marrying at an older age compared to women. By
2023, this difference had reduced to
5.3 years, indicating a convergence in the
marriage ages of same-sex couples across genders.
Highest average age for both genders in the initial year
The data reveals that
2013, the year same-sex marriage was legalized in
France, had the highest average marriage ages for both genders:
43.0 years for women and
49.8 years for men. This spike could suggest an initial rush by older couples to marry following the change in law.
Men consistently older than women at marriage
Throughout the eleven-year span, men entering same-sex marriages were consistently older than their female counterparts. The average age difference, while narrowing, highlights ongoing demographic differences in same-sex marriage patterns between genders.
Recent stabilization in age trends
In the most recent years, from
2020 to
2023, the average ages at marriage have shown signs of stabilization, especially for men, whose average age fluctuated minimally between
44.3 and
44.7 years. Women's average age also stabilized, with a slight variation between
37.6 and
39.4 years, suggesting a potential leveling off in the age trends of same-sex marriages.