Late Versus Early Parenthood

Late (vs. early) parenthood arises when men and women become parents at an older age, relative to the norm. In this entry, late parenthood is defined as becoming a parent at age 35 or later, which is consistent with the medical definition of advanced maternal age. Currently, the average age of U.S. women at their first birth is 26 years, but many men and women become parents in their 30s and 40s. The average age at first birth in many European and North Asian countries is above 30. However, average ages at first birth in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America are much lower (<22). This entry summarizes the demographic trends surrounding late parenthood, reasons that men and women may choose to delay parenthood, advantages ...