Hajnal line

The Hajnal Line is an imaginary line that runs through Europe. It divides countries that have a high tendency for couples to get married early and have children earlier as well from countries where people tend to wait longer to get married and have children.

Imagine you are playing a game of tag, and there is a line drawn in the middle of the park. The people on one side of the line are playing tag really quickly and have lots of kids. On the other side of the line, people are playing tag more slowly and have fewer kids.

The countries on one side of the Hajnal Line tend to have a history of being more traditional, with a stronger emphasis on family, religion, and community. People in these countries may also be more likely to have arranged marriages, where their parents or other elders choose their spouse for them.

Countries on the other side of the Hajnal Line tend to be more modern, with less of an emphasis on traditional values and more of an emphasis on individualism and personal choice. People in these countries may also wait longer to get married and have children, as they focus on other aspects of their lives, such as education or career.

Overall, the Hajnal Line helps us understand how different cultures and historical contexts can shape the way people approach marriage and family planning.