{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1651138,
        "msgid": "declining-marriage-rates-in-indonesia-causes-and-impacts-1775106597",
        "date": "2026-04-02 11:19:00",
        "title": "Declining Marriage Rates in Indonesia: Causes and Impacts",
        "author": "Basuki Eka Purnama",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "The declining marriage rates in Indonesia, particularly among the youth, are driven by shifting priorities towards education, careers, and personal development, compounded by economic pressures such as high living costs and job uncertainty. This trend poses significant risks to the nation's demographic structure, potentially lowering the Total Fertility Rate further and increasing social isolation among the elderly, alongside health concerns like rising sexually transmitted infections. Experts urge public education to reframe marriage as desirable and recommend family-friendly government policies to bolster family resilience.",
        "content": "<p>The phenomenon of declining marriage rates in Indonesia is\nincreasingly under serious scrutiny, particularly among academics. This\ntrend reflects a shift in values and priorities within modern society,\nespecially among the younger generation.<\/p>\n<p>Researcher and lecturer in the Department of Family and Consumer\nSciences (IKK), Faculty of Human Ecology at IPB University, Risda\nRizkillah, SSi, MSi, revealed that marriage is no longer viewed as a\nprimary symbol of prestige or social status. Instead, many young people\nprefer to prioritise personal development.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarriage is no longer the top priority. The younger generation tends\nto focus on education, careers, and personal experiences before deciding\nto marry,\u201d said Risda in her statement.<\/p>\n<p>Risda explained that this phenomenon is triggered by a combination of\nincreasingly complex social, economic, and cultural factors. From an\neconomic perspective, high living costs and job market uncertainty pose\nreal barriers for those wishing to start a family.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, longer durations of education and a strong career\norientation further widen opportunities for delaying marriage age.\nChanges in social norms also play a significant role, where non-marital\nrelationships are beginning to be normalised in some segments of\nsociety.<\/p>\n<p>The following is a summary of the factors influencing the decline in\nmarriage rates according to Risda Rizkillah\u2019s analysis:<\/p>\n<p>This decline in marriage rates is not without risks. Risda warns of\nthreats to the national demographic structure. With Indonesia\u2019s Total\nFertility Rate (TFR) currently at 2.19, the drop in marriages has the\npotential to further suppress birth rates.<\/p>\n<p>Socially, this trend risks increasing loneliness or social isolation\namong the elderly in the future. Meanwhile, from a health perspective,\nRisda highlights the risk of rising sexually transmitted diseases\n(including HIV\/AIDS) if the decline in marriages is accompanied by\nincreased sexual activity outside official bonds without consistent\nhealth protection.<\/p>\n<p>To address this challenge, Risda emphasises the need to change public\nperceptions. Marriage must be repositioned as a desirable life goal\n(marriage is desirable), not something frightening. This requires family\neducation packaged in a way that is relevant to the characteristics of\nthe current generation.<\/p>\n<p>She also encourages the government to intervene through\nfamily-friendly public policies, including:<\/p>\n<p>Ongoing research is also deemed crucial to continuously monitor\nchanges in norms and behaviour among the younger generation to maintain\nthe resilience of Indonesian families in the future.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/declining-marriage-rates-in-indonesia-causes-and-impacts-1775106597",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}