Many men who are looking for partners abroad usually unintentionally believe stereotypes, so mail order bride statistics are the only thing that you can actually trust.
Yet, there are many stats online, and not all of them are true. This is why our team researched and gathered all the trustworthy facts and numbers to help you make informed decisions when entering international dating.
Dictionary.com defines “mail-order bride” as a woman who agrees to marry a foreign man whom she’s met through an agency or brokerage. But it doesn’t happen instantly, as there’s usually a period of long-distance courtship that comes with the process.
The concept of a mail order bride dates back to the 1800s American frontier, but the tradition of arranged marriages was common among the world’s royalty long before then.
The modern concept of mail order marriages has changed since then. because people now meet through specialized online sites. Now, mail order marriages begin on specialized dating sites, where couples match and later decide to marry across borders. One partner usually relocates to start a shared life abroad.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the so-called mail-order brides came from countries like Japan, Italy, Armenia, and Greece. Letters and photographs from these arrangements are preserved in archives such as the National Postal Museum, where mailed portraits of so-called “photo brides” are still documented.
While earlier these women came largely from Europe, modern mail order marriage statistics look different. For example, if we take a look at recent K-1 numbers in the US, we’ll see that the top 5 countries are:
| Countries | K1 visa |
| The Philippines | 10,228 |
| Mexico | 4,180 |
| Vietnam | 2,208 |
| Dominican Republic | 1,969 |
| Colombia | 1,863 |
Those are the statistics for 2024, but the trend has been the same for over a decade now.
To increase your chances of building a happy and healthy relationship with one of the mail-order brides, it’s important to know what to expect. Recent mail order brides statistics can help you get a clear picture of foreign women for marriage in 2026 without rose-colored glasses.
| Average age at marriage | Ranging from 23.4 in Cuba to 38.8 in Spain |
| Fertility rate | From 0.6 in China to 3.0 in Kazakhstan |
| Education level (at least completed primary, population 25+ years) | From 49% in Cambodia to 100% in Ukraine |
| Tertiary education | From 3.28% in Sri Lanka to 41.77% in South Korea |
| English proficiency | Very high proficiency in Slovakia, Romania, and Poland & very low in Cambodia, Kazakhstan, and Mexico |
| Foreign bride divorce rate | Lowest (0.15) is in Sri Lanka & highest (3.9) is in Moldova and Russia |
| Age gap in mail order marriages | 7 years on average |
There’s no universal database on the success rate of mail order marriages, as there’s very limited research on cross-cultural relationships. Yet, we have intriguing numbers that you should know:
And how many mail-order marriages end in divorce? Of roughly 50,000 such marriages registered in the US annually, around 20% end in divorce. That’s 50% lower than the overall U.S. rate!
Even though the international marriage statistics may look very promising, it’s important to understand the risks that come with meeting someone online. According to a recent IRS criminal investigation, romance fraud cases rose by 131% in 2025 compared to 2024. And with the development of AI technologies, online deception got easier as well.
To minimize the risks, it’s crucial to join only reputable dating sites and read reviews from trusted sources. Also, no dating site can guarantee 100% safety. Yet you can feel relatively secure if the service you use has profile verification, detailed profiles with photos, strict member and privacy policies, and live video communication.
But how are mail order brides legal? See, mail order bride marriages are protected by local and international law. Western countries generally recognize an international marriage if it was legally performed and does not violate the laws of either country.
Both the bride and the groom must comply with the IMBRA Act, which makes sure that both parties go through background checks and enter a consensual relationship. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is there to prevent abuse and support the legal status of victims of abuse in a foreign country.
All in all, safety should always be your top priority. So, do not rush when it comes to international relationships, keep an eye out for red flags in communication, and establish trust before committing.
There’s one uncomfortable stereotype about foreign brides, and it involves money. Many people assume that all foreign women are looking for rich husbands or that they are simply seeking a way to immigrate.
Financial gain isn’t the primary goal for most women, but the desire for stability and a better future for themselves and their children often is.
Instead of guessing motives, it’s better to look at the actual numbers. Here’s the situation in popular mail order bride countries and in the countries where many husbands come from:
| Average salary in the bride’s country | The Philippines – $350-$800 per month | Ukraine – $650–$670 per month | Mexico – around $660 per month | Vietnam – around $320 per month | Colombia – $345 per month |
| Average salary in the groom’s country | The US – $6,900 per month | Canada – $5,050 per month | Australia – $5,150 per month | The UK – $4,800 per month | Germany – $4,500 per month |
Financial stability is important in any relationship. Income levels may differ across countries, but so do living costs, and many of these women are educated and employed. They are not looking for a savior but for a partner with whom to build a future together.
The popularity of mail order marriages continues to grow, with roughly 50,000 foreign brides coming to the United States each year to marry U.S. citizens.
We hope that now you have a clearer vision of what to expect from a mail order bride marriage. It’s popular for a reason, but it’s only for you to decide whether you want to look for love this way. And if you do, there are many reputable mail order bride websites ready to help.
