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The effect of education on the timing of marriage in Kenya

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  • Lawrence Ikamari

    (University of Nairobi)

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of education on the timing of marriage among Kenyan women and the relative effects of education across generations of women. Data used is drawn from the 1998 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. The Cox proportional hazard model and linear regression analysis are used to analyse the data. The results show that education has a statistically significant and strong positive effect on a woman’s age at first marriage; the effect remaining robust in the presence of a number of controls. The highly educated women are more likely to delay marriage. Significant variations in the effect of education across the generations of women are apparent. The effect is greater for the younger women, indicating increased postponement of marriage. Premarital sexual activity, premarital childbearing, region of residence, religion and year of birth are also significantly associated with age at first marriage.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence Ikamari, 2005. "The effect of education on the timing of marriage in Kenya," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 12(1), pages 1-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:12:y:2005:i:1
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2005.12.1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jejeebhoy, Shireen J., 1995. "Women's Education, Autonomy, and Reproductive Behaviour: Experience from Developing Countries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198290339.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Zourkaleini Younoussi & Yacoubou Alou, 2017. "Measuring the Influence of Social Mutations on the Precariousness of Women’s Marriage, the “Dismarriage”: Case of Niger Republic," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 5(2), pages 43-54, February.
    5. Chen, Yi & Zhao, Yi, 2022. "The timing of first marriage and subsequent life outcomes: Evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 713-731.
    6. Margaret Frye & Sara Lopus, 2018. "From Privilege to Prevalence: Contextual Effects of Women’s Schooling on African Marital Timing," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(6), pages 2371-2394, December.
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    12. Bipasha Maity & Sumedha Shukla, 2026. "Political regime and women's marriage outcomes," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 93(369), pages 130-159, January.
    13. Kosec, Katrina & Mo, Cecilia Hyunjung & Schmidt, Emily & Song, Jie, 2021. "Perceptions of relative deprivation and women’s empowerment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    14. Mary Crossland & Ana Maria Paez Valencia & Tim Pagella & Kai Mausch & Dave Harris & Luke Dilley & Leigh Winowiecki, 2021. "Women’s Changing Opportunities and Aspirations Amid Male Outmigration: Insights from Makueni County, Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(4), pages 910-932, August.
    15. Rania Salem, 2016. "The gendered effects of labour market experiences on marriage timing in Egypt," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(11), pages 283-314.
    16. Namho Kwon & Hosung Sohn, 2023. "The Effect of Age at First Marriage on Female Fertility: Evidence from Korea’s School Entry Policy Using Exact Date of Birth," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(1), pages 1-30, February.
    17. Hanbo Wu & Luca Maria Pesando, 2025. "Demographic convergence in marriage timing: Intersecting gender and educational expansion," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 52(14), pages 415-444.
    18. Yaya, OlaOluwa S & Amoateng, Acheampong Y, 2016. "Social Structure and Variation in the Family Formation Process: The Case of Age at First Marriage and Duration between First Marriage and First Birth in selected sub-Saharan African Countries," MPRA Paper 88825, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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