Experts disclose the ideal age to get married and how it lowers the risk of divorce

What is the ideal marriage age if age has something to do with the divorce rate?

Relationship expert Lori Gottlieb from Los Angeles shared advice on the best time to get married to avoid divorce on The Diary of a CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett.

Drawing from her own experiences and a study from the Institute of Family Studies, Gottlieb highlighted that there’s an ideal marriage age for a more stable relationship.

Her insights, which are also featured in her bestselling book “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone,” suggest that marrying at this time can lead to a happier marriage with less risk of divorce.

The study indicates that the best age for marriage is between 25 and 30. Marrying at 25 reduces the chance of divorce by over 50 percent compared to marrying at 20.

“It’s obvious about marrying too young, that you don’t have the skills and you’re not established in your own life, you don’t necessarily have the maturity,” Lori noted.

By the mid to late 20s, people usually have a clearer sense of themselves and their goals, making it a good time for growing together as a couple.

Marrying later also provides more shared experiences and a better understanding of each other, with the advantage of still having parents and siblings involved.

The study, conducted by the Institute for Family Studies, also found that before age 32, each extra year reduces the chance of divorce by 11 percent. After 32, the chance of divorce increases by 5 percent for each additional year.

Lori explained that as people age, they become more set in their ways and less flexible in relationships.

Older individuals also carry more negative experiences from past relationships, which can influence their behavior in new ones.

She noted that people often mistrust their current partner due to past issues.

While some think more dating experience makes them better partners, it can make relationships harder because both partners bring their own baggage.

Lori also noted that people today often have unrealistic expectations when searching for a partner, giving up after one date if they don’t feel an immediate “spark.”

However, she pointed out that many successful long-term relationships didn’t start with that initial spark either.

Lori found it interesting that people often judge potential partners based on the first date, even though many in love didn’t feel sparks initially. They might not have felt those sparks on the first few dates or were even friends first.

She explained that dating apps create the illusion of endless options, making it hard for people to give each other a real chance. If you keep juggling people, you never truly get to know anyone or decide if they are someone you want to be with.

Lori suggested asking a simple question after a first date: “Did I have a good time?” If the answer is yes, she advises trying a second date. It doesn’t have to be mind-blowing; just see what happens next.

Lori also noted that men and women have different relationship expectations.

Men, especially younger ones, often have unrealistic expectations based on appearance, influenced by filtered images on social media.

Meanwhile, Alicia Taverner of Rancho Counseling believes that the ideal marriage age is more likely after 25, as people reach a greater level of maturity, making it more likely to succeed.

“In my practice, I see couples who are on the verge of divorce . . .they married before they found themselves and before they had the experiences that come with the ‘singledom’ of your 20s,” she said.

Scientifically, the frontal lobe, essential for decision-making, matures last and can take until age 25 or 30, according to Minnesota Bride.

Decisions made before this maturity often lack a fully developed sense of morality and ethics.

Kemie King from King Lindsey, P.A. adds that the late 20s and early 30s are times when people’s careers and finances become more stable.

“It’s the age where ‘love’ is less idealistic and people are a little more real about their expectations,” she said.

Carrie Krawiec, a marriage and family therapist, suggests that the ideal age for marriage, with the lowest risk of divorce in the first five years, is between 28 and 32. This age range, known as the “Goldilocks theory,” is seen as neither too young nor too old.

Carrie explains that individuals in this range are mature enough to understand true compatibility but still flexible enough to adjust their habits and lifestyle.

What happens if you wait too long?

Couples in their 30s are usually more mature, educated, and financially stable, which helps lower the risk of divorce.

But since around 2000, the risk of divorce for those who marry in their 30s has remained steady, whereas it used to decrease.

In simple terms, couples who marry in their early 30s are more likely to divorce than those who marry in their late 20s.

The study by Nicholas H. Wolfinger from the University of Utah confirms that this trend applies to various demographics.

Overall, the late 20s is the ideal marriage age for most people.

Watch Lori Gottlieb talk about the ideal marriage age with Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO podcast below: