The agency reported that there were 688,000 marriages in 2023, and 83 percent of the couples were married for the first time.

Statistics show that Vietnam’s singulate mean age at marriage (SMAM) has been increasing. In 2023, the SMAM in Vietnam was 27.2 years, while in 2022, the figure was 26.9, and in 2021, it was 26.2.

The SMAM of Vietnamese males was 29.3 years, and females 25.1. The figure for urbanites was 28.6, and for rural people 26.3.

The southeast region has the highest SMAM, over 29 years. The figures were 30.4 in HCM City, 29.3 in Ba Ria – Vung Tau and 29.1 in Khanh Hoa.

The SMAM in Hanoi in 2023 was at 27.9, the highest among Red River Delta’s localities. In Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Hai Phong, the figure was 27.4.

Meanwhile, people in midlands and mountainous areas in the north married the earliest, at the mean age of 24.6. In Lai Chau, the figure was just over 22 years old. Ha Giang and Son La ranked second and third, with 22.8 and 22.9 years, respectively.

Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong from Hospital 354 noted that people in localities with strong socio-economic development tend to get married later. The same is occurring in many other countries.

Young people, both men and women, have many opportunities and choices in their lives, career and job promotions, but they also have challenges and pressure.

“Young women now tend to spend more time to build their career and maintain independent lives, rather than get married and have babies in early ages,” she said.

The doctor said that late marriage is associated with late childbearing. For women, the ‘golden period’ to give birth is 20-25 years old.

Meanwhile, the next-generation women at the ages of 20-25 still spend time studying and building their careers.

Many people believe that it would be better to have babies when they are over 30 years old. At this age, they have financial capability to ensure the best living conditions for their children.

Surveys have found that many women become pregnant when they are 30-35 years old. In general, higher risks are posed for pregnant women aged over 35.

Linh Trang