Total first marriage rate

Definition

The total first marriage rate for a population over a year is defined as the sum of all the age-specific first marriage rates for that population.

The total first marriage rate is usually calculated separately for males and females:

• The total male first marriage rate is the sum of all the age-specific male first marriage rates
• The total female first marriage rate is the sum of all the age-specific female first marriage rates

The total male first marriage rate and total female first marriage rate need not be equal.