Marriage trends in India shift over a decade; 90% prioritise ‘right person’ over age or income

New Delhi: The median age for marriage among Indian singles has climbed from 27 to 29 over the past decade, as per a report released on Thursday. Marriage priorities are also being redefined, with 90 per cent of users saying that finding the “right person” matters more than reaching a certain age or income level.

The study, ‘The Big Shift: How India Is Rewriting the Rules of Partner Search and Marriage’, was conducted by matrimony platform Jeevansathi. It analysed user trends between 2016 and 2025, alongside survey insights from more than 30,000 active users in 2026.

“The shift indicates that financial stability, career growth and personal readiness are taking precedence over early marriage timelines,” the report stated.

Rise in remarriages

The findings highlight a sharp rise in remarriage seekers. In 2016, 11 per cent of users were looking for a second marriage, compared with 16 per cent in 2025, marking a 43 per cent increase. “Fifteen per cent of interest received by divorced profiles now comes from individuals who have never been married, while one in six success stories on the platform involves a second marriage, signalling a gradual decline in the stigma around divorce,” the report added.

Caste preferences have weakened significantly, dropping from 91 per cent of users marking caste as non-negotiable in 2016 to 54 per cent in 2025. In metropolitan areas, only 49 per cent now consider caste a “strict field”.

Nuptial decisions increasingly self-led

The report noted that marriage decisions are increasingly self-led, with 77 per cent of profiles created and managed by users themselves in 2025, compared with 67 per cent in 2016. Family-managed profiles fell from 33 per cent to 23 per cent, though 69 per cent of respondents said parental involvement makes the process easier, pointing to a hybrid model of autonomy and family participation.

Evolving perspective on gender roles

On evolving gender roles, only 8 per cent of users believe one partner should be the sole breadwinner. The report found that 87 per cent of men are comfortable marrying a woman who earns more, while 15 per cent of women are open to marrying men who earn less.

“Over the last decade, Indian singles have become more intentional — choosing compatibility, shared values and emotional readiness over rigid filters or timelines. Marriage today is increasingly self-led, yet deeply collaborative, where individuals take charge of decisions while families continue to play an important role,” said Rohan Mathur, chief business officer, Jeevansathi.

PTI