Diverse Marriage Patterns in Imperial Germany

Abstract

Based on the German census of 1900, this article describes marriage patterns in Imperial Germany. The general marriage pattern did not markedly deviate from the “European” one. Nevertheless, the analysis uncovered interesting geographical variation. The male pattern presented differentiation between eastern and western Germany, with levels of male permanent celibacy being lower in the eastern parts of the Empire. However, the extent of female permanent celibacy was great, especially in Prussia. This is probably associated with a dearth of males at marriageable ages due to historical circumstances (migration and wars that decimated young males) in the 1860s and early 1870s.