Marriage continues to fall out of favour – media release
28 August 2025
The number of couples tying the knot in 2024 continues the trend towards fewer marriages and civil unions, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
In 2024, there were 18,033 marriages and civil unions celebrated by couples living in Aotearoa New Zealand. This was 4 percent lower than in 2023 (18,744 marriages and civil unions), and 14 percent lower than in the 1990s (an average of 20,950 marriages per year).
“The marriage rate has fallen from one generation to the next, with a range of factors contributing to this, including changing views of marriage, and economic factors,” population estimates, projections, and coverage spokesperson Rebekah Hennessey said.
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