In the traditional family, marriage is still a family rather than a personal affair. Marriages are not conducted by the Imam anymore as they were before the Republic. By law they have to be civil. It is legally forbidden to marry before the age of 15 for women and 17 for men. The average age for girls to marry is around 17-18.
Early marriages are more frequent in rural areas.
For young men in big cities the problems of receiving an education, military service and acquiring a job are among the reasons that delay marriage. The continuity of a family is provided by children. With the development of people's educational levels, the belief in the continuity only being provided by sons is losing its effect. At the pregnancy of a new bride, an excitement among family members grows. For the births, in rural places midwives are present, whereas in big cities hospitals are common.