[TerrifiedMouse]

> The reverse problem of fertility vs sex difference in age preference exists in some African countries, where the fertility rate is very high. Which means there are more young people, which means some fraction of young women will not find a partner.

Maybe I’m dumb. I don’t understand how young women will have trouble finding a partner.

[shiroiuma]

It makes little sense. Naturally, there are about 1.07 males born for every 1 female, so there's usually an excess of young men. The OP's statement only makes sense if the young women all insist on finding older, monogamous partners.

[cubefox]

Women prefer men of a similar to older age, men prefer women of a similar to younger age. In countries with high fertility, the latter pool is larger than the former. And even when women lower their standards in response, this doesn't solve the problem, as it doesn't cause men to lower their standards.

It's the exact reverse in low fertility countries.

[TerrifiedMouse]

I still don’t get it. The fact that women prefer men of similar age or older … there are plenty of young men of similar age for young women, in fact it’s nearly one to one, then you add in the older men. For young women their suitors outnumber them.

Seems to be young men and elder women will always have a shortage of suitors no matter the population ratio between young and older people. It’s just that the shortage worsens for young men if the ratio leans towards more older people and the shortage worsens for older women when the ratio leans towards more young people.

[cubefox]

We are speaking of a society with more younger than older people. For example, there are fewer people aged 30 to 40 than there are people aged 20 to 30. 30 year old men have therefore more choice than 30 year old women.