The Number of Unmarried Young People Increased in 2021

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports that the percentage of unmarried youth is increasing every year. Conversely, the percentage of married youth is decreasing.

The proportion of unmarried youth was 61.09% in 2021. This percentage increased by 1.27 points from the previous year, which had a percentage of 59.82%.

Over the past 10 years, the increase in unmarried youth has approached 10 points. BPS states that the percentage of unmarried youth increased by 9.11 points from 51.98% in 2011.

Meanwhile, youth with married status was only 37.69% in 2021. This figure decreased by 1.16 points from the previous year, which was 38.85%. Compared to 2011, it decreased by 8.81 points from 46.5%.

BPS explains that this condition is related to improvements in the quality of life, especially in education and economic status. These two factors have a negative correlation with the decision of when to marry, especially for women.

Furthermore, the policy that raised the minimum marriage age through Law Number 16 of 2019 is a reason for the decline in the pattern of married youth.

Youth, according to Law No. 40 of 2009, are Indonesian citizens aged 16-30 years. This age is an important period in growth and development.