When it comes to marriage, the age gap between spouses can vary greatly. While most couples are within 10 years of each other, some have much larger age differences. So who has the biggest age gap when it comes to marriage?
What is considered a big age gap in marriage?
There is no definitive rule for what constitutes a big age gap between spouses. However, many consider a 10 year or greater difference to be a significant age gap. Anything beyond a 15 year age gap is generally seen as very large.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, only about 8% of married couples have an age difference of 10 years or more. The most common age gap between spouses falls between 1 and 5 years, with the husband being older in a majority of those couples.
So while age gaps of 10+ years are not the norm, they are certainly not unheard of. High profile couples like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones (25 year gap) have demonstrated that large age gaps do not necessarily preclude a successful marriage.
World Records for biggest age gaps in marriage
In terms of the absolute biggest age gaps, here are some of the world records:
- The Guinness World Record for the largest age gap between married couples belongs to Ziona Chana and his 39 wives. Ziona was 76 when he died in 2021, while his youngest wife was 24 at the time, a staggering 52 year difference.
- American actor Harrison Ford married Calista Flockhart in 2010 when he was 67 and she was 45, an age gap of 22 years.
- 66-year-old Rupert Murdoch married 59-year-old Jerry Hall in 2016, making for a 7 year gap. They split in 2021.
- French banker Olivier Sarkozy and Mary-Kate Olsen had a 17 year age difference when they married in 2015.
So while over 50 years is likely the record holder, even gaps of 20+ years are not unheard of among celebrity couples.
Age gaps by country and culture
Age gaps between spouses can vary significantly across different countries and cultures:
- In India, the average age gap is around 7 years, with the man being older. However, larger gaps are common in rural areas.
- Many African countries have average marital age gaps of 6-9 years.
- In the Middle East, gaps can range from 7-14 years on average.
- China and other East Asian countries have smaller average gaps of 3-4 years.
- Western countries tend to have smaller gaps as well, averaging 0-3 years.
Some key factors that influence marital age gaps by culture include:
- Patriarchal attitudes – Women marrying older men is common in patriarchal cultures.
- Arranged marriages – These often involve older grooms and younger brides.
- Legal age limits – Countries with lower marriage ages tend to have larger spousal age gaps.
- Education – More education for women reduces age gaps in many cultures.
Marital Age Gaps by Country
| Country | Average Age Gap |
|---|---|
| India | 7 years |
| Nigeria | 6-9 years |
| Saudi Arabia | 12 years |
| China | 3 years |
| United States | 2 years |
| France | 0-3 years |
Why do large age gaps matter in marriage?
While age is just a number for many couples, spouses with significant age differences do face some unique challenges:
- Different life stages – One spouse may still want to go out, while the other feels too old.
- Maturity levels – Large gaps can make it harder to see eye-to-eye.
- Social stigma – Many perceive big age gaps as taboo or inappropriate.
- Future caregiving – Younger spouses often become caregivers as their older partner ages.
- Differing life expectancies – The younger spouse has to face more years alone after their partner dies.
However, age-gap couples that communicate well and understand these challenges can certainly overcome them. Shared values, interests, and life goals often matter more than age.
Is there an optimal age gap in marriage?
Research suggests there may be an ideal age gap for marital satisfaction and longevity:
- A study of over 3000 couples found that on average, spouses with an age gap of 0-3 years reported the highest marital satisfaction.
- Couples with gaps of 0-4 years had significantly lower divorce rates compared to larger gaps of 5+ years in one study.
- For each additional year of age gap over 10 years, couples face increasing odds of divorce.
- Wives who are 7-9 years younger than their husbands have the lowest mortality risk.
This indicates age gaps of 0-4 years, with the man being slightly older, may have the best outcomes. Very large gaps of 10+ years may be riskier.
Studies on Ideal Marital Age Gaps
| Study | Findings |
|---|---|
| National Survey of Family Growth | 0-3 year gaps had highest marital satisfaction |
| University of Amsterdam | 0-4 year gaps had lowest divorce rates |
| Journal of Population Economics | Odds of divorce rise as gap exceeds 10 years |
| Journal of Women’s Health | Women 7-9 years younger than husbands have lowest mortality |
Conclusion
While age is not everything, research suggests spousal age gaps do impact marital success and longevity. The biggest age gaps on record exceed 50 years, though celebrities often have gaps of 20+ years.
Culturally, age gaps are wider in countries with patriarchal attitudes and arranged marriages. Gaps of just 0-4 years tend to have the highest marital satisfaction and stability.
Every couple is unique, but the data indicates smaller spousal age gaps of 0-10 years tend to fare better than larger gaps of 10+ years. An age gap of around 2-4 years with the man being slightly older seems to be the “sweet spot” that optimizes marital outcomes.