The way in which couples relate and project their lives has changed in recent times. This is shown by some countries with the lowest level of marriage. Year after year, weddings are becoming scarce, singles are growing.
The old traditions, imposed by religious ideas or family customs, have lost weight in the priorities of people. Many years of courtship, casual relationships and cohabitation without papers are the protagonists at present.
5 countries with the level of marriage: decrease in commitment
Geographic and cultural distances have not been a barrier to this paradigm shift. People from different continents are immersed in the same decrease in marriages.
1. Colombia
It is one of the countries with the lowest level of marriage in the world and free unions lead the way. The family, as an institution, does not seem to be relevant to Colombians.
A surprising fact is the number of extramarital children that exist. More than half of children are the result of informal relationships. In fact, there are some who do not live with any of their parents.
2. Portugal
Since the mid-70s, with the end of the dictatorship. The Portuguese choose not to marry as before. Catholicism is no longer imposed to bless the unions that allow procreation.
Individuals choose to have children without going through the altar and marital status remains intact. In addition, there are new free people due to the rise of divorces. The European country is considered the largest number of legal separations in recent times.
3. Argentina
Among the South American countries, the lowest marriage level is also found in the southern country. The credibility in the institutions has decreased so much. That it is reflected in the couple relationships.
The percentages of people who decide to live without any formality. Rather than the word, grow gradually. There are even more people living in free or single couples than married couples.
4. Italy
Another of the countries that has changed its conception on the sacrament of marriage. From the 70s to the present, the nuptial rate has decreased by more than 20%. The trend indicates that it continues to decline and unions are based on free living together.
It is a way to test if the couple works with the second step, after the courtship. In case this is not the case, the separation is given without more formalities than a move.
5. Mexico
Even adding marriages between people of the same sex it is not possible to reach the level of a few years ago. Single people up to 30 years of age have increased considerably.
The decrease in weddings is accompanied by a much greater increase in divorces. An idea that the tolerance imposed in relationships no longer exists: freedom to union prevails.
Why do people discard marriage to seal a couple’s union?
- End of family conventions. Young people have freed themselves from traditions imposed in other years within the family. They do not feel the obligation to marry to satisfy their parents. But simply limit themselves to doing what they want.
- Loss of faith. Many of those who call themselves Catholics actually do so because they are baptized or have passed through confirmation. However, the sacrament of marriage does not have the same importance for them and is not based on Christian beliefs. Their lifestyle and convictions are, in some cases, out of religious mandates.
- Laws that favor singleness. The sanction of some laws, such as those related to fertility, allow for treatments without the need of a partner. So, it is no longer essential to get married in order to have children.
- Economic independence of women. In the past, women were educated to be housewives and maintained by their husbands. At present, their economic and professional liberation offers them a different life.
Marriage levels are lower in most countries of the world. It is directly related to the revolutions of thought and laws that allow individual independence. The family has lost its strength as an institution and, badly or badly, there are many people who tend to be more practical and live alone.