Marriage numbers up and divorce rates down, according to latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Marriage rates are up and divorce rates down, with new figures revealing nuptials between couples of the same or non-binary gender have risen and Friday is becoming popular as a day to say “I do”.

Marriage rates are up and divorce rates down, according to the latest ABS figures.

A growing “try before you buy” attitude to marriage, with more couples living together before tying the knot, may be behind Australia’s declining divorce rates.

New ABS data shows marriage numbers are up and divorce rates are down — with nuptials between couples of the same or non-binary gender rising and Friday becoming popular as a day to say “I do”.

Dr Lixia Qu, a senior research fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies, said people marrying at a later age, and more couples living together before marriage, was likely contributing to the declining divorce rates.

Friday is the second most popular day to say ‘I do’.

“These days most couples live together before getting married — if they marry at all,” Dr Xu said.

“Being able to ‘try before you buy’ was less of an option (in the past) … due to stigma and societal expectations.”

There were 120,844 marriages registered in Australia in 2024, 2 per cent higher than the 118,439 marriages registered in 2023, the latest ABS data shows.

Victoria recorded the highest increase with 2,234 more marriages (up 7.5 per cent) in 2024 than the year before.

There were 4,746 marriages registered nationally in 2024 for couples of the same or non-binary gender, up by 4.1 per cent from the 4,558 marriages registered in 2023.

Conversely, divorce rates went down.

The ABS said 47,216 divorces were granted in Australia in 2024, down 3 per cent from the 48,700 divorces granted in 2023.

The median duration of marriages (from marriage to divorce) increased slightly to 13.2 years in 2024, up from 13.0 years in 2023.

The median age at divorce in 2024 was similar to previous years — 47.1 years for men and 44.1 years for women.

Wedding season was also, well, seasonal.

Most couples opted to say their vows in autumn and spring.

Winter, Easter and Christmas periods recorded a lower number of marriage ceremonies.

Most couples opt to say their vows in autumn and spring.

February 24 was the most popular date to get married in 2024. ABS figures said 1,773 marriages took place in that late summer day.

Other popular dates in 2024 were April 20 (1,605 marriages), April 6 (1,580 marriages). October 12 and October 26 each shared 1,579 marriages each.

Saturday, according to statistics, was best day to seal the deal.

ABS numbers said 55,000 marriages took place on a Saturday in 2024. The top 42 dates to get married also fell on a Saturday.

Friday was the second most common day to get married, with about 20,000 marriage ceremonies happening on this day.

February 24 was the most popular date to get married in 2024.

While the ABS figures suggest love and marriage is back in style, some experts believe divorce rates are down due to cost of living pressures.

Family law specialist Kylie Burke said: “The old model, where one person keeps the home and the other rents nearby, is increasingly off the table. The question we’re hearing more and more is: Can either of us afford to live after this?

“Dividing assets is just one part of the picture now,” she added.

“It’s also about ensuring both parties can afford to live … and plan for their financial future.”

Originally published as Marriage numbers up and divorce rates down, according to latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics