Variation in the Age Gap Between Spouses by Environment in Al-Anbar Governorate and a Prospective Vision Using AI Tools

Abstract

Aims: The current study aimed to investigate the extent of variation in the age gap between spouses in Al-Anbar Governorate according to environment (urban and rural), and the influencing variables (environment, level of education, and husband's year of birth). It also seeks to provide a future outlook on the age gap between spouses and its future trends using AI tools.

Methodology: The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach supported by a comparative statistical method between urban and rural areas within the administrative boundaries of Al-Anbar Governorate. The research relied on field survey data collected in 2025. The study sample consists of 626 households, distributed as 336 in urban areas and 290 in rural areas.

Results: The findings reveal variation in age differences between spouses, with clear differences between urban and rural areas. The range in urban areas was wider (-7 to 20 years), while in rural areas it ranged from (-5 to 19 years). The age gap was generally smaller in rural areas compared to urban areas.

However, according to time categories, the closest age gap (0–5 years) recorded the highest percentages, representing two-thirds of married couples in rural areas and half of those in urban areas. The moderate gap (6–10 years) ranked second, followed by the large gap (more than 10 years).

Moreover, educational level showed a significant impact on the age gap, as higher educational levels were associated with larger age differences compared to lower educational levels. Furthermore, results indicated that older couples (based on year of birth) recorded a wider age range compared to younger couples. In urban areas, the age gap ranged from 11.5 to 4.8 years, and in rural areas from 12.5 to 4.2 years for birth cohorts (1940–1949) and (1990–2000), respectively.