Age Gap Between Spouses in South and Southeast Asia

Age gap between spouses has important implications on a range of outcomes—from fertility, longevity to gender relationships, marital quality, and stability. This paper examines age in South Southeast Asia, two regions Asia that have witnessed changes marriage systems. Data from 12 countries the were analysed. The average difference (husband’s minus wife’s age) is positive all ranges 2.7 Myanmar 8.4 Bangladesh. homogamous marriages accounted for 5% Bangladesh close half Thailand. proportion hypogamous was uniformly low except where it reaches 10%. Marriage significant predictor spouses. Men’s stronger effect determining compared women’s age. In general, women with lower education larger than those higher education. However, much this explained by timing across educational groups. results are discussed context social demographic regions.