81pc Pakistanis have arranged marriages: survey

ISLAMABAD: Parents’ opinion is given the highest priority for marriage in Pakistan and the majority of adult Pakistanis marry at the will of their family, according to a Gallup Pakistan survey of over 500 people.

The survey was conducted between June 28 and July 10, 2024. Over 85 percent people in the survey said that they had arranged marriages, while 14 percent said that they married of their choice, while 1 percent did not answer the question.

According to the survey, the percentage of girls among the arranged marriages was high as 85 percent got married on the wishes of their parents, while 14 percent said they preferred to marry someone of their own choice. On the contrary, 77 percent of the boys obeyed their parents, while 22 percent married of their own free will.

In terms of age, in the survey, 21 percent of young people, age up to 30 years, said they preferred marriage of choice while 79 percent of the people said they will marry according to their parents’ wishes. On the other hand, 81 percent of those aged 30 to 50 had arranged marriages, while 18 percent married someone by own choice. Over 89 percent above the age of 50 preferred parents choice for marriage, while 10 percent preferred personal choice over parental opinion.