J-K tops list of unmarried youth in country

SRINAGAR — The percentage of unmarried youth is on the rise in India with J&K topping the list, reveals a report issued by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

As per the National Youth Policy 2014, persons between the age group 15-29 years are classified as youth.

“The percentage of the youth population (15-29 years) who are never married has shown an increasing trend in the male population from 20.8 per cent in 2011 to 26.1 per cent in 2019. A similar trend has been observed in the case of the female population,” the report states.

It adds, “In 2019, highest percentage share of the youth population who are never married have been observed in the States/UTs of Jammu & Kashmir followed by Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab and the lowest have been observed in the States/UTs of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.”

As per the data, the percentage of youth who are never married increased from 25.3 per cent in 2011, 25.9 per cent in 2015 and 29.1 per cent in 2019.

“The trend in males has increased from 27.1 per cent in the year 2011, 28.1 per cent in the year 2015 and 30.1 in the year 2019,” the figures state, adding that the percentage of female youth who have never married increased from 23.5% in the year 2011, 23.3% in the year 2015 and 28.1% in the year 2019.

“In the whole of India, the number of youth who are not married has increased from 17.2 per cent in 2011, 20 per cent in 2015 and 23 per cent in 2019,” the report reads.

It states, “The trend in males in India has increased from 20.8 per cent in 2011, 23.8 per cent in 2015 and 26.1 per cent in the year 2019.”

The figures also reveal that the percentage of female youth in India who have never married increased from 13.5% in the year 2011, 16.4% in the year 2015 and 19.9% in the year 2019.