ABSTRACT
Keeping in view its role in population composition, structure and growth, marital status of population is discussed in this chapter. After a discussion on data and measures, the chapter presents world patterns in marital status based on World Marriage Data 2015 of the UN. Mean age at marriage forms the base of discussion on world patterns in marital status. Discussion on marital status in India at the aggregate level is based on the latest data from the census (2011) as well as NFHS 4 (2015–16). Trends in proportion single and mean age at marriage (for females) at the aggregate level since 1891 and differentials in marital status across various social groups in 2011 along with district-level patterns in mean age at marriage and proportion married below legal age as per 2011 census form part of the chapter.
