Marriage and Family

Marriage is legal at age 16 but usually takes place when people are in their mid- to late 20s. Fewer people are getting married than in the past and those who do are marrying later. It has become increasingly popular in recent years for couples to live together before or instead of marriage.

English families are small (one or two children are the norm). Women are having fewer children and are waiting longer to have them. In the past three decades, a substantial number of women have begun working outside the home. The divorce rate has risen, as has the number of single-parent families.

Marriage and Family

Traditionally, marriages were arranged between heads of families, often with little input from the couple involved. Now, however, individuals have more say about whom they marry. Because marriages join not just two people but two families, both families are heavily involved in wedding preparations. Housing is expensive and hard to acquire, and engagements may last until the couple has saved enough money for a home.

Marriage and Family

In Eritrea, nearly all marriages are arranged by families. Among the Tigrinya, parents suggest marriage partners to establish family alliances. The couple involved usually makes the final decision to marry, although some couples in rural areas may not be acquainted before they wed. The bride is often some ten years younger than the groom; in cities she will most likely have completed secondary school before getting married.