President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent evaluation regarding young people making marriage decisions at later ages has once again revealed the deep-rooted transformation taking place in the institution of marriage both in Türkiye and globally. Assessing this change from a sociological perspective, Sociologist Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı said: “Young people preferring to marry at later ages does not merely point to individual choices, but to a profound social transformation occurring in the institution of marriage in Türkiye and around the world.”
Stating that solo living has often become not so much a conscious choice as a new way of life imposed by modern life, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı said: “Today, approximately one out of every three marriages ends in divorce. These data show that the number of marriages is decreasing, while single living has now become a social reality.”
Faculty member of the Department of Sociology at Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, evaluated the institution of marriage.
There is a deep social transformation in the institution of marriage in Türkiye and the world
Stating that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent remarks on young people preferring to marry at later ages point not only to individual choices but also to a profound social transformation in the institution of marriage both in Türkiye and globally, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı emphasized that today marriage has become an institution that is established later, approached more selectively, and whose psychological dimension is becoming increasingly stronger.
“The rise of singlehood is reshaping the world”
Noting that this transformation is shaped not only by economic reasons but also by individualization, rising expectations, and changes in perceptions of relationships, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı continued as follows: “The global reflections of this transformation are also striking. The Economist defines the process with the phrase ‘the rise of singlehood is reshaping the world.’ In the United States, half of men aged 25–34 and approximately 41 percent of women in this age range are now living alone. Since 2010, the proportion of single-person households has continued to increase in 26 of 30 developed countries. If the marriage rates of 2017 had been maintained, there would be around 100 million fewer single people in the world today. The fact that 60 to 70 percent of those living alone state that they actually want a relationship but cannot establish a suitable partnership shows that solo living has often become not a conscious choice, but a new lifestyle imposed by modern life.”
One out of every three marriages ends in divorce
Stating that Turkish Statistical Institute data reveal a significant transformation in the family structure in Türkiye in recent years, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı said: “While the average household size was 4 people in 2008–2009, this number has fallen to 3.11 in 2024. The proportion of single-person households representing solo living has reached 20 percent today, up from 13.9 percent in 2014. This picture shows that the ‘solo living’ model, which has been widespread in Western societies for many years, is becoming increasingly visible in Türkiye as well. During the same period, the proportion of the classic nuclear family structure has decreased from 45.7 percent to 38.6 percent, while the proportion of single-parent families has increased from 7.6 percent to 10.9 percent. While the marriage rate has fallen from 8.35 per thousand to 6.65 per thousand, the divorce rate has risen from 1.41 per thousand to 2.19 per thousand. Today, approximately one out of every three marriages ends in divorce. These data show that the number of marriages is decreasing, while single living has now become a social reality.”
Women’s education has removed marriage from being an obligation
Explaining that at first glance economic reasons come to mind when looking at this picture, but that both global studies and Türkiye’s data reveal that this transformation is shaped not only by economic factors but also within the framework of sociological and psychological dynamics, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated: “The increase in women’s level of education stands out as one of the most decisive elements of this process. While only 9.7 percent of women were continuing higher education in Türkiye in 1997, this rate has now reached 49 percent. The strengthening of women’s economic and social independence transforms marriage from an obligation into more of an area of personal choice. The increase in individualization, the rise in people’s life expectations, and the extension of human lifespan also fundamentally change the meaning attributed to marriage.”
Young people are not distancing themselves from the family, they are seeking a qualified bond
Prof. Süleymanlı also stated that large-sample studies conducted by Üsküdar University on university youth clearly show how this transformation is reflected in the value world of young people, and said: “According to the research, a large majority of young people still associate family with ‘love,’ ‘happiness,’ and ‘the meaning of life.’ It is also noteworthy that among the qualities young people seek in the person they will marry, trust, respect, loyalty, shared thinking, and spiritual values stand out. This picture shows that young people approach marriage more cautiously, more consciously, and with a search for a higher-quality bond.”
There is a search for long-term compatibility in spouse selection
Noting that the factors considered in spouse selection also support this approach, Prof. Süleymanlı said: “In the studies conducted, young people giving an average of 3.43 to sharing the same religion, 2.85 to having a similar socioeconomic status, and 2.67 to having the same political view reveals that rather than absolute similarity, the search for a balanced compatibility comes to the fore. The perception of the ‘right person’ is now built not only on emotional attraction but also on long-term compatibility and relational stability.”
How young people approach relationships
Stating that the study titled “Youth, Digitalization and Loneliness,” conducted in cooperation with Üsküdar University and Method Research Company, also reveals more clearly how young people approach relationships, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı said: “According to the research, young people attach the greatest importance to trust, respect, loyalty, harmony, and spiritual values in spouse selection. These data show that while digitalization accelerates relationships, it also makes them more fragile, and in response, young people seek safer and more sustainable bonds.”
President Erdoğan’s emphasis and the search for a strong family under changing conditions
Prof. Süleymanlı also stated that President Erdoğan bringing the issue onto the agenda points to an important social sensitivity regarding the future of the family institution, and concluded his remarks as follows: “Today, both in Türkiye and around the world, while the age of marriage is increasing, the number of marriages is decreasing, divorces are increasing, and solo living is becoming more visible. This picture shows that young people are evaluating their marriage decisions more carefully not only through individual preferences but also within the framework of living conditions, future expectations, and relationship compatibility. The President’s evaluation once again reveals the importance of addressing the issue together with its economic, social, and cultural dimensions.”