Spousal age disparities at marital timing and women empowerment among women in Nigeria

Women’s empowerment is critical for achieving gender equality but is often hindered by patriarchal norms, early marriages, and regional disparities. Age differences between spouses at the time of marriage can aggravate the barriers to women’s empowerment. Therefore, this study examines spousal age differ-ences in marital timing and women’s empowerment among women in Nigeria. This cross-sectional design study used the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and focused on married women aged 30–49 years (n=7,840). Women’s empowerment was measured based on information concerning decision-making, economic participation, and healthcare. Data were analyzed using logistic and generalized lin-ear regression models (α=5.0%). The mean age of the respondents was 35.13 ± 2.73 and 35.5% were empowered. Women’s empowerment was high in spouses who married at older ages than those who mar-ried early. Staying longer in school before marriage, particularly among girls will improve women’s empowerment in Nigeria.