Is marriage common in Russia?

Marriage is a common institution in Russia, with most adults getting married at some point in their lives. However, there are some interesting trends and statistics around marriage in Russia that provide insight into the role of marriage in Russian society.

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Marriage Rates in Russia

According to data from the United Nations, the crude marriage rate in Russia – that is, the number of marriages per 1,000 people per year – was 7.2 as of 2015. This ranks Russia in the midrange worldwide – for comparison, the United States had a marriage rate of 6.9 that year. Here are some key stats on marriage rates in Russia:

The marriage rate in Russia peaked at 10.8 in 1987 during the Soviet era.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the rate declined sharply, hitting a low of 6.2 in 2000.
Since 2000, the rate has rebounded slightly, averaging around 7 marriages per year per 1,000 people.

The marriage rate remains higher in rural areas of Russia compared to urban centers like Moscow and St. Petersburg.

So while the marriage rate in Russia has fluctuated significantly in recent decades, it remains relatively strong compared to many other developed countries.

Age of First Marriage

Another useful statistic is the age at which people first get married in Russia. Here are some key trends:

The average age of first marriage for women in Russia is around 25 years old.
For men, it is slightly higher at around 27 years old.
These ages have increased gradually over the past 15 years. In the early 2000s, the average first marriage age for women was about 23.

The average age varies by region, with people marrying younger on average in rural areas compared to cities.

Overall Russia follows global trends toward older ages at first marriage, but the average age is still relatively young by Western standards.

Marriage Customs and Traditions

Russia has many interesting customs and traditions related to marriage and weddings. Here are a few:

A tradition of paying a “bride price” to the family of the bride, though this is increasingly rare today.
“Matchmakers” who make marriage pairings, a tradition with origins in rural Russian peasant villages.
In rural areas, kidnapping or staged kidnappings of brides by grooms, sometimes called “bride kidnapping.”

Elaborate wedding dresses for the bride, often passed down through generations.
A wedding custom involving the bride and groom each stepping on special decorated bread.

While some historical Russian marriage traditions are no longer widely practiced, weddings today still usually contain some traditional customs and superstitions.

Marriage Statistics by Gender

Looking at marriage rates broken down by gender provides additional insights:

On average, men in Russia first get married 3-4 years later than women.
As of the 2010 Russian census, only 10% of women aged 25-29 had never been married. For men the same age, it was over 50%.

By age 50, only 9% of Russian women have never been married compared to 20% of men.
There is also a demographic gap because of male mortality rates, with about 10 million more women than men in Russia as of 2020.

In summary, Russian women tend to marry at younger ages compared to men, and marriage rates are lower for men than women at all age brackets.

Marriage Rates Among Russian Emigres

There are also interesting statistics around marriage for ethnic Russians who emigrate abroad:

One study found ethnic Russian immigrants to the U.S. have substantially lower divorce rates compared to the overall U.S. population.
However, the intermarriage rate for Russian immigrants in the U.S. has increased substantially from 1970 to 2000.

Second generation Russian Americans are much more likely to intermarry compared to first generation immigrants.

This suggests that while Russian cultural attitudes toward marriage persist initially after immigration, they assimilate over generations.

Same-Sex Marriage in Russia

Russia has highly restrictive laws around LGBTQ rights, including same-sex marriage:

Russia banned same-sex marriage in 2020 after a constitutional amendment.
Same-sex couples have no partnership rights and cannot adopt children together.
There is very little public support for same-sex marriage in Russia according to polls.

Violence and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals remains a major issue.

Overall, same-sex marriage is prohibited in Russia both legally and culturally, with strong conservative attitudes predominant.

Divorce Rate in Russia

The divorce rate is another useful metric around Russian marriages. Here are some key facts:

The divorce rate spiked after the fall of the Soviet Union, when social and economic turmoil led more couples to separate.
Since 2000, the rate has stabilized around 40-50% of marriages ending in divorce.
The rate remains lower than many Western countries – about 45% compared to 53% in the U.S.

As in many countries, divorce peaks around the 4th year of marriage in Russia.

So while divorce is common, marriage breakups have become less frequent in Russia since the 90s and early 2000s.

Reasons for Russia’s High Marriage Rate

Why does Russia maintain a relatively high marriage rate compared to many other developed nations? There are several cultural and economic factors that help explain it:

More traditional family values and social conservatism, especially in rural areas.
Housing shortages – married couples get priority for property allocation.
Tax and inheritance benefits for married couples.

Having children out of wedlock remains taboo.
High mortality rate and low life expectancy for men.

In summary, economic incentives, social norms, and demographic realities all contribute to marriage remaining common practice in Russia today.

Conclusion

While the marriage rate in Russia has fluctuated over the past decades, it remains one of the higher rates among developed countries. Traditional cultural attitudes toward family remain strong, especially in rural areas. The average marriage age is increasing but remains lower than in Western countries. However, the institution of marriage in Russia also faces challenges like high divorce rates and demographic imbalances between men and women due to high male mortality. Restrictive laws also prohibit same-sex marriage. But overall, Russia stands out for the importance its culture still places on marriage compared to many other countries.