Mary was likely between 12 and 16 years old when she gave birth to Jesus, with most Christian historians and scholars placing her age around 15 or 16 based on cultural and historical context. Jewish girls at that time were typically betrothed as early as 12, but often consummated the marriage later, which aligns with Mary being a young teenager when Jesus was born
. Some traditions and apocryphal texts suggest she might have been as young as 12 or 13, while others lean toward mid-teens. The Bible itself does not specify her exact age, but describes her as a virgin betrothed to Joseph, implying she was young but mature enough to undertake significant responsibilities
. In summary, the most plausible age range for Mary at Jesus’ birth is approximately 12 to 16 years old, with 15 or 16 being the most commonly accepted estimate among historians.
