Arranged marriage

An arranged marriage is a marriage where the spouses are selected by a third party. It differs from a love marriage, in which the spouses know each other and themselves initiate the marriage. An arranged marriage, by contrast, is organized by the third party with the couple having little to no say. The third party is most commonly the spouses' parents, possibly with the aid of a marriage broker.

Normally, the couple agree to the arranged marriage. However, in a forced marriage, one or both of the partners does not consent; and in a child marriage, one or both partners cannot consent because they are under 18 years old. Marriages without consent are condemned by the United Nations.

Arranging marriages has historically been common in many cultures and religious traditions. It remains widespread in certain regions, particularly South Asia, West Asia and North Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. In other parts of the world, such as Europe and East Asia, the practice has declined substantially since the 19th century.