40-Something Brides Outnumber Those in Their 20s

Brides in their early 40s outnumbered those in their early 20s for the second year. They include brides in their first, second or third marriages.

Since 1990, when these statistics began, there has been a decrease of more than 90 percent in brides in their early 20s, but an increase of more than 300 percent in brides in their early 40s.

In 1990, 193,778 women in their early 20s got married, compared to just 3,462 in their early 40s. But the number of 20-something brides dwindled as a result of social changes and the ultra-low birthrate. 

For one thing the female population aged 20-24 as a whole shrank drastically from 2.11 million in 1990 to 1.48 million last year. And more women in their 30s and 40s get married a second time after divorce or they simply wait until they are ready and pursue a career first.

According to a poll by Statistics Korea last year, only 35.1 percent of people in their 20s want to get married, the lowest in all age groups except teenagers.