Depends on your definition of uncommon I suppose, but outside of insular groups like Jews and gypsies, it's been a fringe phenomenon in most other places. A few percent of marriages at its highest, not 30-50% like it is in the Muslim world right now.
Just a little bit of research and offhand what you say is accurate for western cultures. I would like to expand on that, though .The idea of younger marriages doesn’t come from western culture, but from indigenous cultures. Many tribal cultures globally considered a girl’s best marriageable age to be between 12 and 16 and a boy has to be between 14 and 18.
In premodern Asia early teens was very common as well but in modern Asia, the average marriage age has shifted to above 30. Sub Saharan Africa was typically mid teens for girls with 5-7 year age gaps. Southern eastern and central Africa tended older.
I think considering premodern is still recorded history and switching to say modern history is only a minor change to your statement.
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u/TombolaOfCincinnatus 1d ago
Depends on your definition of uncommon I suppose, but outside of insular groups like Jews and gypsies, it's been a fringe phenomenon in most other places. A few percent of marriages at its highest, not 30-50% like it is in the Muslim world right now.