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Age disparity in sexual relationships

Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:23:28 PM Wikipedia source

In sexual relationships, concepts of age disparity, including what defines an age disparity, have developed over time and vary among societies. Differences in age preferences for mates can stem from partner availability, gender roles, and evolutionary mating strategies, and age preferences in sexual partners may vary cross-culturally. There are also social theories for age differences in relationships as well as suggested reasons for 'alternative' age-hypogamous relationships. Age-disparate relationships have been documented for most of recorded history and have been regarded with a wide range of attitudes dependent on sociocultural norms and legal systems.

Tables

Table 1. Regional singulate mean age of marriage (SMAM) difference between males and females[46] · Evolutionary perspective › Female preference for older males
Eastern Africa
Eastern Africa
Region
Eastern Africa
SMAM difference
4.3
Middle Africa
Middle Africa
Region
Middle Africa
SMAM difference
6.0
Northern Africa
Northern Africa
Region
Northern Africa
SMAM difference
4.5
Western Africa
Western Africa
Region
Western Africa
SMAM difference
6.6
Eastern Asia
Eastern Asia
Region
Eastern Asia
SMAM difference
2.4
South-Central Asia
South-Central Asia
Region
South-Central Asia
SMAM difference
3.7
South-Eastern Asia
South-Eastern Asia
Region
South-Eastern Asia
SMAM difference
2.4
Western Asia
Western Asia
Region
Western Asia
SMAM difference
3.5
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Region
Eastern Europe
SMAM difference
3.1
Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Region
Northern Europe
SMAM difference
2.3
Southern Europe
Southern Europe
Region
Southern Europe
SMAM difference
3.3
Western Europe
Western Europe
Region
Western Europe
SMAM difference
2.7
Caribbean
Caribbean
Region
Caribbean
SMAM difference
2.9
Central America
Central America
Region
Central America
SMAM difference
2.5
South America
South America
Region
South America
SMAM difference
2.9
Northern America
Northern America
Region
Northern America
SMAM difference
2.3
Australia/New Zealand
Australia/New Zealand
Region
Australia/New Zealand
SMAM difference
2.2
Region
SMAM difference
Eastern Africa
4.3
Middle Africa
6.0
Northern Africa
4.5
Western Africa
6.6
Eastern Asia
2.4
South-Central Asia
3.7
South-Eastern Asia
2.4
Western Asia
3.5
Eastern Europe
3.1
Northern Europe
2.3
Southern Europe
3.3
Western Europe
2.7
Caribbean
2.9
Central America
2.5
South America
2.9
Northern America
2.3
Australia/New Zealand
2.2
Table 2. Countries with largest marital age differences[46] · Cross-cultural differences (heterosexual) › Larger than average age-gaps
Cameroon a
Cameroon a
Country
Cameroon a
SMAM difference
6.5
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Chad
Chad
Country
Chad
SMAM difference
6.1
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Rep. of Congo
Rep. of Congo
Country
Rep. of Congo
SMAM difference
8.6
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Dem. Rep. of Congo
Dem. Rep. of Congo
Country
Dem. Rep. of Congo
SMAM difference
8.2
Legal status of polygamy
Illegal, but practiced
Zambia
Zambia
Country
Zambia
SMAM difference
3.1
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Sudan
Sudan
Country
Sudan
SMAM difference
6.4
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Burkina Faso a
Burkina Faso a
Country
Burkina Faso a
SMAM difference
8.6
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
Country
Côte d'Ivoire
SMAM difference
7.2
Legal status of polygamy
No Longer Practiced
Gambia
Gambia
Country
Gambia
SMAM difference
9.2
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Guinea a
Guinea a
Country
Guinea a
SMAM difference
7.3
Legal status of polygamy
Illegal but practiced
Liberia
Liberia
Country
Liberia
SMAM difference
6.5
Legal status of polygamy
Not Criminalised
Mali
Mali
Country
Mali
SMAM difference
7.5
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Mauritania
Mauritania
Country
Mauritania
SMAM difference
7.7
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Niger
Niger
Country
Niger
SMAM difference
6.3
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Nigeria
Nigeria
Country
Nigeria
SMAM difference
6.9
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Senegal
Senegal
Country
Senegal
SMAM difference
8.1
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Country
Afghanistan
SMAM difference
7.5
Legal status of polygamy
Polygamous
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Country
Bangladesh
SMAM difference
6.8
Legal status of polygamy
Not Criminalised
Montserrat b
Montserrat b
Country
Montserrat b
SMAM difference
8.3
Legal status of polygamy
Unknown
Nauru
Nauru
Country
Nauru
SMAM difference
7.3
Legal status of polygamy
Prohibited
Mozambique
Mozambique
Country
Mozambique
SMAM difference
8.6
Legal status of polygamy
Not Criminalised
Country
SMAM difference
Legal status of polygamy
Cameroon a
6.5
Polygamous
Chad
6.1
Polygamous
Rep. of Congo
8.6
Polygamous
Dem. Rep. of Congo
8.2
Illegal, but practiced
Zambia
3.1
Polygamous
Sudan
6.4
Polygamous
Burkina Faso a
8.6
Polygamous
Côte d'Ivoire
7.2
No Longer Practiced
Gambia
9.2
Polygamous
Guinea a
7.3
Illegal but practiced
Liberia
6.5
Not Criminalised
Mali
7.5
Polygamous
Mauritania
7.7
Polygamous
Niger
6.3
Polygamous
Nigeria
6.9
Polygamous
Senegal
8.1
Polygamous
Afghanistan
7.5
Polygamous
Bangladesh
6.8
Not Criminalised
Montserrat b
8.3
Unknown
Nauru
7.3
Prohibited
Mozambique
8.6
Not Criminalised

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