All the single men
A 2023 census in Namibia reveals that nearly 90% of men aged 18 to 39 have never been married. Experts attribute this trend to shifting gender roles, increased financial independence for women, and changing social attitudes toward traditional marriage.
Why it matters
The decline in marriage rates reflects broader socio-economic shifts in African societies, impacting family structures and demographic trends.
Almost 90% of men between 18-39 years not married
About 87.2% of men aged 18 to 39 in Namibia had never been married at the time of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, with some men questioning whether marriage should remain an expected milestone in adulthood.
Figures from the Namibia Statistics Agency show that 454 047 of the 520 557 men in this age group have never married. In 2001 the number of never married was less.
According to the 2001 census, 60.9% of men aged 15 and older had never married, compared with 51.9% of women.
The total number of people aged 15 and older who had never married then was 625 230, out of 1.1 million people.
Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali says changing gender roles, financial independence and domestic violence may be influencing how people view marriage.
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