The Changing Pattern of Female Nuptiality in Oman

Like most other countries in the Arab world, Oman is in the midst of social, economic and cultural transformations that are dramatic in pace and effect. Families are undergoing major changes as new patterns of marriage and family formation are emerging. This paper examines female marriage pattern and timing of marriage in Oman utilizing the 2000 National Health Survey data. One of the important aspects of the marriage pattern in Oman is the high prevalence of consanguineous marriage (52%). About 11% of the marriage are polygynous. The long tradition of early and universal marriage in Oman is gradually shifting to delayed but universal marriage. The change is apparent for more recent marriages or among younger cohorts of women and for certain sociocultural groups. Multivariate analysis identified female education, age cohort, place of residence, region of residence, types of marriage and employment as strong predictors of rising age at marriage in Oman. The growing bulge of the young adult people accompanied by delayed marriage may have serious demographic, social, economic and political ramifications for the country, highlighting the need to understand the new situation of youth, their characteristics, problems and demands.