Best Age Difference for Successful Marriage? Fact or Fiction?

What is the best age difference for successful marriage?

Best Age Difference for Successful Marriage

Have you heard of the “half their age plus seven” rule? Essentially, this means that if a man is 30, he should date a woman who is 22 (half of 30 plus seven).

Recent research conducted by Christian Rudder, the co-founder of dating website OKCupid, shows that female users of the site look for men who are roughly the same age or slightly older (a year or two) while men generally prefer women who are in their early 20s, regardless of how old they actually are.

In theory, it may be good for couples to have a smaller age gap. For instance, they are likely to have common experience (including childhood experience) which may bond them together. Further, a smaller age difference means a lower risk of widowhood.

The question is, does a smaller age gap actually lead to more successful marriage? A study conducted by the Atlantic claimed that “a five year age difference makes a couple 18% more likely to get divorced, compared to a couple born on or around the same year”. However, it is worth noting that the study did not provide a causal link between age gap and risk of divorce. It seems that it is more about the person, rather than the age gap.

See: Soumaya Keynes, “What’s the best age gap in a relationship?”, 1843 Magazine

As a family lawyer in Singapore, I have witnessed couples with different age difference file for divorce. In my personal opinion, there may not be a causal link in terms of the age different and the risk of divorce. In other words, there isn’t a best age difference for successful marriage.

It is more about how the couple work to overcome obstacles in their marriage, and make a success out of it.

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