Some societies have more intricate systems. People who live in Hong Kong, for instance, often associate a person's age stage based on marital status, parental status, the household composition and the person's contribution to the work force. Some groups of people have a harder time dividing members of their society into age stages. Kung of the Kalahari, are some examples. Residents of Clifden rarely recognize age stages, except when the member can no longer function physically.
Societies rank the age of their members using a variety of systems.
Many industrialized countries, such as the United States, use absolute age, the actual time from the individual's birth. It is indeed paramount to American society, because without precise reckoning and proof of chronological age, an individual cannot vote, apply for a driver's license, or get married. Relative dating, however, is more typical. Relative dating usually means that an individual's age is based on the age of others. Person 1 is older than Person 2.