Some 57 pct of first marriages in Turkey ‘arranged marriages’ - Türkiye News (2024)

FAQs

What percentage of marriages are arranged in Turkey? ›

56.8% of first marriages was realized as arranged marriage

The proportion of people who selected his/her spouse with their own decision and family's approval was 34.9%.

Is Forced marriage common in Turkey? A recent survey released on April 1 by the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜİK) has shown that 56.8 percent of first marriages across the country in 2021 were arranged marriages, with individuals or their family's decisions.

Once a woman is selected, the potential bride and her family decide whether to accept. Today, it's only in very rural parts of Turkey that this tradition prevails, and most couples meet the same way the rest of us do - through friends or online.

The legal age of marriage in Turkey is 18 and children can marry at the age of 17 with the consent of their parents or legal guardians. Children at the age of 16 can also marry, with special permission from the courts 'under exceptional circ*mstances and on vital grounds'.

33.6 percent of divorces took place in the first 5 years of marriage, and 20.9 percent took place within 6-10 years.

Turkey is a predominantly Muslim nation that has abolished polygamy, which was officially criminalized with the adoption of the Turkish Civil Code in 1926, a milestone in Atatürk's secularist reforms. Penalties for illegal polygamy are up to 2 years imprisonment.

Although Islam allows for up to four wives, in Turkish civil law only the first wife has legal status. The so-called sister wives are mostly left at her mercy in the case of the husband's death.

‣ If you are married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years and your marriage is sustaining, you can apply for Turkish citizenship. If your spouse dies after your application, the requirement of unity of family is not sought any more.

Cohabitation before marriage is also uncommon, as many believe men and women should only live together if married. Divorce is not common and most Turkish couples seek to avoid it if possible. When it does occur, the belongings and wealth of a couple are split equally between them.

In 2020, 35.3% of divorces occurred in the first five years of marriage and 20.7% of divorces occurred in the marriages with the duration of 6-10 years. As a result of the divorce cases, while 135 thousand 22 couples were divorced, 124 thousand 742 children were given to guardianship in 2020.

Who pays for a Turkish wedding? ›

Who pays for a Turkish wedding? Traditionally, the groom's family pays for the wedding.

Those who enter an arranged marriage also have a much lower divorce rate than those who enter a marriage without their parent's involvement. The divorce rate for arranged marriages is 4 percent, while the divorce rate in the United States is around 40 to 50 percent.

Divorce—though originally sanctioned more than 1,400 years ago by Islamic law—is still widely viewed in Muslim societies as a subversive act that breaks up the family. Women who seek divorce can often find themselves ostracized and treated as immoral.

In Turkey, there are two major types of divorces: contentious divorce suit and consensual divorce. The first procedure implies one of the spouses to file for divorce because of the conflicts with the other party, adultery or mental illness.

Countries With Highest Divorce Rate

The Maldives has the highest rate at 5.5 divorces per 1,000 people. Guam follows in second place with 4.3 divorces per 1,000 people. Russia is third at 3.9 divorces per 1,000 people and Moldova is fourth at 3.8 divorces per 1,000 people.

The practice of consanguineous marriage is frequent in Turkey, especially in the eastern provinces (4). This should, in principle, help to facilitate disease gene discovery, as the increased fre- quency of hom*ozygosity among members of inbred populations has led to the identification of many disease genes (5–8).

Monogamy is one of the essential principles of Turkish family law. A second marriage can't be entered into unless the first is terminated. Married women whose marriage has been dissolved cannot marry before the expiration of three hundred days from the date of dissolution.

Abstract. Turkey has a high rate of consanguineous marriage (21.1%), indicating strong preference for this traditional form of marital union. Social and cultural factors are especially important in marriages between first and second cousins.

Foreign citizens marrying a Turkish national

It is possible for a foreign citizen living in Turkey to marry a Turkish citizen provided that the former has been living here based on a residence or work permit.

Marriage in Turkey may be performed by Muslim clerics (since 2017) or by civil officials, although only civil marriage is recognized. The legal age for marriage is 18 although 17-year-olds can marry with parental permission, and 16-year-olds with both parental permission and a court decision.

Are Turks monogamous? ›

Except in "unusual cases," Turks are henceforth to be monogamous. That is the substance of a law recently passed by Parliament at Angora. Most of the city Turks have for some years been monogamous, partly because of economic reasons.

Two foreigners from the same nationality can marry in Turkey either in the offices of their own Country's Embassy or Consulate, or in the Turkish Marriage Offices run by local municipalities. Please note that religious weddings are not recognized by the State, there has to be a civil wedding.

Marriage Procedures in Turkiye for U.S.

Religious ceremonies are not legally recognized. The U.S. Embassy or Consulates in Turkey do not perform marriages.

Foreigners can marry in Turkey and the marriage certificate will be recognized internationally. As stated on the US consulate website: “marriages in Turkey must be performed under the authority of the Turkish Civil Code to be legally recognized.

Yes, unmarried couples can share a room in Turkey. Actually it is forbidden for hotels to ask for a marriage license.

Turks often marry their first cousins and other close kin, under the incest laws of Islam, to keep control of wealth within the extended family; however, many marriages in Turkey today involve completely unrelated persons.

Since international destinations are already in mind, Turkish wedding bands may be one of the first places your mind goes, but in fact, the rings also called Harem rings, Puzzle Rings, or Asian Puzzle Rings, are not the traditional rings used in Turkey and in fact, have never been used in the Turkish culture.

Traditionally, the bride and her family are responsible for paying for all wedding planning expenses, the bride's attire, all floral arrangements, transportation on the wedding day, photo and video fees, travel and lodgings for the officiant if he comes from out of town, lodging for the bridesmaids (if you have offered ...

Bridewealth is often one part of a reciprocal exchange, in which case it is accompanied by the provision of a dowry—a payment presented by the bride's family to that of the groom. Bridewealth may consist of money or goods, and it may be paid in one sum or in installments over a period of time.

Foreigners are eligible to stay in Turkey for longer terms and/or become Turkish citizens upon marriage to a Turkey citizen.

Which country has the highest rate of arranged marriages? ›

South Korea. Arranged marriages are a deeply-rooted traditional belief in South Korea that's still prevalent in rural communities. Although couples have more freedom when choosing their marriage partner, parental approval of the union is still highly regarded.

Forced marriage constitutes grounds for both annulment and divorce. There are no laws specifically against forced or child marriage in Turkey, though the country has been strengthening protections for women and children in recent years.

In some cultures, arranged marriages are common and accepted. For example, in India, it is still considered the norm, with 90 percent of marriages being arranged, but in the United States, it is less common.

The bottom line is this: Experts agree that couples who get hitched via an arrangement can indeed fall just as deeply in love as those who meet by chance. Ultimately, the success of the marriage depends not on how the individuals met, but on the work they put in after saying “I do.”

Until the first half of the 20th century, arranged marriages were common in migrant families in the United States.

Based upon available data, the country with the lowest divorce rate in the world is Sri Lanka, with a divorce rate of 0.15 divorces per 1,000 residents. Vietnam and Guatemala have the next lowest rate at 0.2 divorces per every 1,000 residents.

Countries With Highest Divorce Rate

The Maldives has the highest rate at 5.5 divorces per 1,000 people. Guam follows in second place with 4.3 divorces per 1,000 people. Russia is third at 3.9 divorces per 1,000 people and Moldova is fourth at 3.8 divorces per 1,000 people.

If you are a U.S. citizen marrying in Turkiye, you will first need an affidavit of eligibility to marry notarized in the United States or at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please note affidavits notarized in the U.S. must also be apostilled in the state where the notary took place.

Those who enter an arranged marriage also have a much lower divorce rate than those who enter a marriage without their parent's involvement. The divorce rate for arranged marriages is 4 percent, while the divorce rate in the United States is around 40 to 50 percent.

Does looks matter in arranged marriage? ›

In the case of arranged marriages, many women choose a partner on the basis of their looks. Yes, looks do matter but they aren't the only factor that you should be keeping in mind. It is important to check if your would-be partner holds a strong personality.