Age at effective marriage and fertility: An analysis of data for North Kanara

Abstract

From time to time, Indian demographers have advocated that the age at marriage of girls be raised so as to reduce the reproductive span of women, and thereby, bring down the birth rate. Some researchers [1-3] have estimated a 10-20 percent reduction in the birth rate if the age at marriage of girls is increased to 18-20 years while others [4-6] estimate it to be less than 10 percent. Despite variations in estimates, and depending on the assumptions made by the researchers, it may be concluded that delaying the marriage of girls would lead
to some reduction in the birth rate.