This paper describes the matrimonial and reproductive behaviour of Italians who migrated to Belgium after the Second World War. Migrants were either already married, or later became married, to other Italians. Among the children of migrants, men equally chose Italian or Belgian wives but women tended to prefer Italian partners. Italian-Belgian marriages were more frequent among the better educated groups. Family size is smaller among migrants marrying after migration and in heterogamous marriages. Significant differences in birth intervals are found when marriage occurred before or after migration, between generations, and between homogamous and heterogamous marriages.

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education cultural anthropology Reproduction educational status Reproductive Behavior population Migrants demography Europe fertility behaviour Fertility Measurements Population Dynamics human Family And Household ethnic group Developed Countries Mediterranean Countries Western Europe Mate Selection fertility birth order marital trends family size historical study Italian people Family Characteristics twentieth century Residence Characteristics marriage Humans male female Belgium Article Southern Europe Questionnaires adult migration Marriage Patterns Intermarriage international migration human experiment Pedigree Demographic Factors normal human Emigration and Immigration Italy Birth Intervals nuptiality immigrants