ISLAMABAD: Pakistani women are marrying and starting families slightly later than in previous decades, but the period during which they have children remains significant, according to a recent analysis. Data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys of 1990-91 and 2017-18, examined by Gallup Pakistan Digital Analytics, reveals changes in women’s reproductive timelines over nearly thirty years.

According to the Gilani Research Foundation, the median age at first marriage rose from 18 years in 1990-91 to 19 years in 2017-18, with a similar increase in the median age at first birth from 20 to 21 years. The data also indicates a decline in the median age at last birth, from 36.2 to 33.8 years, suggesting that many women continue to have children into their mid-30s.

The findings point to a gradual shift in family formation, with women marrying and becoming mothers later than before. However, the childbearing span has only modestly narrowed, decreasing from approximately 16.2 years to 12.8 years over the same period. While this represents a meaningful reduction, the span remains relatively long, with women starting to bear children in their early twenties and continuing into their mid-30s.

The analysis suggests a prolonged reproductive period can lead to more pregnancies over a woman’s lifetime and an increased likelihood of births at older ages. However, the data does not provide insight into birth spacing, total fertility, or individual pregnancy risk, which require separate examination.

Overall, the study highlights gradual changes in marriage and motherhood timelines, with the shift in the end of childbearing occurring earlier. Still, the transition in reproductive patterns in Pakistan is ongoing and remains incomplete.