Marriage Squeeze: A Determinant of Singlehood among Women in Nigeria

The percentage of women who are never married from age thirty and above is increasing in Nigeria, yet, the fact of singlehood in its actual prevalence and determinants are virtually unknown through scholarly research. This study advances a marriage squeeze explanation to the rising prevalence of singlehood among women in Nigeria. An investigation of available census data shows severe imbalance between the numbers of marriageable men and women in Nigeria. Most Nigerian men marry younger women. Typical spousal age difference is between 5 and 10 years. Census data in 2006 shows that there were only 87 single males per 100 single females in age group M20-54/F15-49 for five-year spousal age gap. With ten-year spousal age difference, the severity of marriage squeeze was worse, there were 55 single men age 20-59 per 100 women age 10-49. The regions with more severe marriage squeeze also had higher prevalence of singlehood among women. With increasing penchant for monogamy even among Muslims, this excess supply of marriageable women will result in larger number of older single women and increased incidence of permanent singlehood among women. Reduction in the age gap between men and women at marriage would reduce the influence of marriage squeeze.