The changing nuptiality patterns of developing countries are of great importance in view of the tremendous impact such changes may have on fertility change. In this article the changing nuptiality patterns during the period 1901–71 in Sri Lanka are discussed in detail. The nuptiality transition during the period 1901–71 manifests itself by steady changes in the female proportions ever married in the younger age-segments 15–19, 20–24, 25–29 from the levels of 51·9, 79·0, 84·9 in 1901 to 10·5, 46·9, 75·4 in 1971. In view of the serious ‘marriage squeeze’ in 1971 and its continuance till 1981 with only some improvement, the female proportions married may fall still further from the levels of 1971 for the younger age segments of the childbearing span. Besides this, the level of spinsterhood may attain higher levels in the coming years.