Is the age gap between husbands and wives changing in Pakistan?
Last reviewed:
Direct answer
National evidence does not yet justify a clear trend claim about the actual age gap within couples. PDHS reported separate median ages at first marriage for women and men—20.4 and 25.9 years in 2017–18—but subtracting those two population medians does not measure spouse pairs. Platform age settings are also not spouse outcomes. A valid trend needs both partners’ ages for comparable married-couple samples across several years, with remarriages and age at marriage handled consistently. The available figures show gender timing differences, not how paired gaps changed.
Sources used
Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18
National Institute of Population Studies and The DHS Program
National survey evidence for marriage timing, women, households and health indicators.View sourceMarriage Age Preferences in Pakistan
Weddme Research
Analyzes saved partner-age preferences among eligible Weddme profiles.View source