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| Spain raises marrying age from 14 to 16 | Spain raises marrying age from 14 to 16 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Spain has raised the minimum age for marriage from 14 to 16, having had the lowest marrying age in Europe. | Spain has raised the minimum age for marriage from 14 to 16, having had the lowest marrying age in Europe. |
| Before the age was raised, boys and girls could marry at the age of 14 with the permission of a judge. It is now level with most European countries. | Before the age was raised, boys and girls could marry at the age of 14 with the permission of a judge. It is now level with most European countries. |
| The change comes only months after the government raised the age of consent from 13 to 16. | The change comes only months after the government raised the age of consent from 13 to 16. |
| The government announced its intention to alter the law in April 2013, but it came into force only on Thursday. | The government announced its intention to alter the law in April 2013, but it came into force only on Thursday. |
| The move was welcomed by officials from Unicef and children's rights groups in Spain. | The move was welcomed by officials from Unicef and children's rights groups in Spain. |
| According to El Pais (in Spanish), only 365 marriages involving under-16s took place in Spain between 2000 and 2014 - with only five in 2014. | According to El Pais (in Spanish), only 365 marriages involving under-16s took place in Spain between 2000 and 2014 - with only five in 2014. |
| In the 1990s, however, there were 2,678 marriages involving at least one under-16 - and 12,867 in the 1980s. | In the 1990s, however, there were 2,678 marriages involving at least one under-16 - and 12,867 in the 1980s. |
| Legal age of marriage in Europe | |
| The average age of marriage in Spain has increased in recent years. | The average age of marriage in Spain has increased in recent years. |
| One study by the Statistical Institute of Catalonia showed that, in 2013, men in the region married at an average age of 33.6 years, compared to 32.6 years for women. | One study by the Statistical Institute of Catalonia showed that, in 2013, men in the region married at an average age of 33.6 years, compared to 32.6 years for women. |
| Ten years earlier, men married at an average age of 30.7 years, and women at 28.7 years. | Ten years earlier, men married at an average age of 30.7 years, and women at 28.7 years. |