Should You Include Marital Status on Your CV?

In the past, it was more common to include marital status, but today it's not necessary in most circumstances. In this article, we discuss when, why and how to write marital status in your CV.

What’s your marital status?

See below for definitions of marital status used in the UK and a few other selected English-speaking countries:

Including marital status on your CV: yes or no?

In most cases, it's not mandatory to include marital status in your CV. In fact, in some countries, like the UK, including marital status in your CV or cover letter is generally discouraged. However, customs and expectations do vary according to the country you're applying in, and there may also be some variation depending on the type of role you're applying for. In this section, we'll clarify situations where it might be helpful to include marital status in your CV, and when to omit it.

Mentioning your marital status is not mandatory

It used to be very common to mention your marital status on your CV in the UK, but now not so much. In reality, you’ll rarely find job listings asking for marital status as this is private, personal information and does not affect your ability to perform in a job.

Mentioning your marital status in your CV is usually unnecessary, except where country conventions dictate otherwise. Let's take a look at some of the different conventions:

In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, adding marital status to a CV is unnecessary and generally discouraged. This is because there are various protected characteristics that it's illegal to discriminate against, including among other things, marital status. This is enshrined in law by the Equality Act 2010 in the UK, and similar laws in the other countries. As such, it's strongly advisable to leave marital status and other personal details off your CV, to avoid legal complications.

In South Africa, opinions are divided whether your marital status or similar personal information belongs in your CV. As a rule of thumb, if it is relevant to the application, feel free to disclose your marital status, otherwise, leave it off your CV to protect yourself from discrimination.

In India, some traditional employers may still expect you to list personal details on your CV, (including marital status). This is particularly likely for local companies and government roles. Modern, or multinational companies are much less likely to require or expect it.

In Indonesia, some employers still include marital status in standard CV templates. International companies and startups generally do not require it.

In the Philippines, traditional, local CV formats often included personal information such as age, religion, and marital status. However, modern HR standards (especially in BPO, tech, and international firms) avoid collecting marital status from candidates.

For European countries, expectations vary, but many countries traditionally include marital status and other personal information on a CV. In Germany, France, Italy and Spain, it's normal to include personal details in your CV, even though it's not mandatory. However, in Scandinavian countries, including Sweden, Norway and Denmark, adding marital status to your application is discouraged.

When can your marital status work in your favour?

In most cases, your marital status or any other personal information won’t add value to your CV. However, there are some exceptions.

Where should you mention your marital status on your CV?

If you’re wondering how to write your marital status in a CV, this information should go in the header section of your CV below your name, address and contact information. Alternatively, you could add it in an 'Additional Information' section at the end of your CV.

Other information you could include in these sections are gender, nationality and date of birth. Some people go so far as to mention the number of children they have, but volunteering this information is unnecessary unless it truly adds value to your CV. Remember, if you're applying in the UK, it's usually best to omit this information altogether to avoid the risk of hiring bias and discrimination.

See below for two CV examples of how to present your marital status, starting with showing the martial status in a CV header:

It is also possible to display the marital status in the addition information section of your CV. This way, it is less prominent:

If you're unsure how to present marital status in your CV, Jobseeker's CV builder can help. Choose from a selection of professionally designed CV templates and customise the layout and content to suit your needs.

How your marital status may influence employer perceptions

If you do mention your marital status on your CV, it’s important to note that this increases the risk of discrimination. There is plenty of evidence that hiring bias exists, whether intentional or unintentional. Indeed, unintentional hiring bias is one of the primary motivations for omitting personal details from a CV.

When it comes to marital status affecting employer perceptions, outdated stereotypes and preconceptions may endure. This might include assuming a young female appointment will eventually want children, and employers fearing that they may need to spend time and money hiring a replacement. They may also the fear that a woman may not return to work after having a child.

On the other hand, being divorced or separated might be considered a failure, however unfair that might seem. As your CV should focus on your successes and achievements, anything that could indicate failure is best left off your CV.

Reactions to your marital status may also differ depending on the country you're applying in. While some countries place higher emphasis on traditional values, including marriage, employers in other countries will place far less emphasis on these matters.

Employers are not allowed to ask about your marital status

However, remember that, according to UK anti-discrimination laws, an employer is not allowed to ask you about your marital or relationship status. The same applies to questions about your plans to have children, your sexual orientation, religion, creed, race or nationality. An employer may only ask questions about topics relevant to assessing your suitability for the position. In this way, the law protects applicants from discrimination.

Any discriminatory hiring practices based on protected characteristics are against the law, whether it's conscious or unconscious. Indeed, the very existence of unconscious bias in the hiring process indicates that it's best to leave personal information, such as marital status, off your CV.

Should you include marital status on your CV?

To sum up, in most cases you don't need to mention your marital status or any other personal information unless the employer requires it (as could be the case in South Africa). Otherwise, leave the information off your CV and focus on making your CV shine through your skills, work experience and accomplishments. Below is a list of guiding tips to remember from this article:

Remember, Jobseeker's CV tools and resources can help you craft an impactful application in minutes. Sign up today to access HR-approved CV and cover letter templates and cover letter examples.