TREND TOWARDS WESTERN EUROPEAN MARRIAGE PATTERNS IN REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA

An increasing convergence with Western European marriage patterns, characterized by later marriage and marriage postponement, is noted, leading to reduced natality and more frequent negative natural increase, as well as a decrease in the population of certain areas.

PHOTO: Evanto

In the Republic of Srpska, the nuptiality rate last year stood at 4.9 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants. According to the latest available data from Eurostat for 2022, the nuptiality rate in the EU was 4.2 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants.

The highest number of marriages last year in Srpska were contracted between grooms and brides with Bosnian citizenship, totaling 5,035 or 92 percent.

The average age at marriage for grooms last year was 32.3 years, representing an increase of 0.2 years compared to 2022, while the average age at first marriage was 30.4 years, marking an increase of 0.2 years compared to 2022. From 1998 to 2023, the age limit for grooms to enter into their first marriage increased by 1.8 years.

The average age at marriage for brides last year increased by 0.2 years compared to 2022, reaching 29.3 years, while the age limit for entering into their first marriage also increased by 0.2 years, reaching 27.6 years. The average age at first marriage for brides increased by 2.9 years from 1998 to 2023.

Brides in the Republic of Srpska marry earlier than grooms. In the age group of 15 to 19 years, 221 brides entered into marriage, while in the same age group, 24 grooms did.

In the past year, 974 marriages were dissolved in the Republic of Srpska, with an average duration of marriage before divorce being 13 years.