Why do “educated” people tend to marry later, while others seem to settle down earlier?
This question quickly went viral Threads, drawing thousands of likes and replies, with netizens sharing their own takes and not everyone agreed on the answer.
“Marriage isn’t just about love anymore”
One of the most liked responses suggested that people who pursue higher education often see marriage from a broader perspective.
According to the user, marriage today goes beyond romance. It involves financial stability, emotional readiness, communication skills, and even past experiences.
“Reality makes people more careful when choosing a life partner,” the comment read.
Others agreed, saying that those who spend more time studying or building careers tend to plan their lives more intentionally, instead of rushing into marriage.
Higher standards, smaller pool?
Another popular opinion pointed to expectations.
“Lower standards, bigger pool. Higher standards, smaller pool,” one netizen wrote, suggesting that being more selective could make it harder and slower to find the right partner.
Some also shared that marriage isn’t necessarily their main goal. Instead, they prioritise career growth, personal development, or further studies before settling down.
Different life paths, not “educated vs biasa”
Not everyone agreed with the way the question was framed.
Several users pushed back on the idea of comparing “educated” and “biasa” groups, arguing that it’s more about life circumstances than intelligence.
For example, those who start working earlier may reach financial stability faster, making marriage a more natural next step in their early 20s.
Meanwhile, those who continue studying often only begin working later — which naturally delays marriage plans.
“It’s not about being more or less educated, it’s just a different life structure,” one comment explained.
But is there data behind this?
While the discussion was largely based on personal opinions, data does show that Malaysians are generally marrying later than before.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the median age at marriage in 2023 stood at 28 for grooms and 27 for brides.
The trend is even more noticeable among non Muslim Malaysians, where the median age was recorded at 31 for grooms and 29 for brides in 2022.
Studies have also found that the age at marriage has been rising over the decades, especially among those with higher education, likely due to longer years spent studying, building careers, and achieving financial stability.
Marriage isn’t a race
Some netizens also shared personal experiences that showed there’s no “right timing”.
One woman said she chose to delay marriage to pursue her master’s and PhD, as she didn’t want a partner to limit her ambitions.
On the other hand, another shared how she got married young and supported her husband through his PhD and later, he supported her in completing her own studies.
“You can be married and still pursue your education or career,” she said.
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