04/02/2005
Figures show marriage increasing in popularity
The latest statistics have revealed that the number of people getting married in the UK increased in 2003.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, which were published ahead of National Marriage Week (February 7 – 14), showed that marriages in England and Wales increased by 4.7% in 2003, to 267,700. This is the second successive annual increase in the number of marriages taking place and marks a pick-up from 2001, which recorded the lowest annual number of marriages since 1987.
The majority of the marriages (59%) that took place were the first marriages for the men and women involved, the same proportion as in 2002. However, remarriages for both parties increased by 1% to 19%, while first marriages for one party only, decreased to 22%.
The average age at marriage also increased slightly to 35.6 years for men and 32.9 years for women, compared to 35.3 and 32.6 respectively in 2002. The average age for first-time marriages rose slightly from 30.9 for men and 28.7 for women in 2002, to 31.2 and 28.9 respectively in 2003.
The report also found that more marriages are taking place in approved premises, such as hotels and stately homes. Such marriage ceremonies accounted for 27% of all marriages in 2003, compared with 24% in 2002. There has been a dramatic increase from 1996, the first full year when approved premises first became available - fewer than one in ten marriages took place in such venues in that year.
The ONS also found that civil marriages also accounted for over two-thirds (68%) of all marriages in 2003, with 181,500 taking place. This compared to 66% in 2002 and 51% in 1993.
(KMcA/SP)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, which were published ahead of National Marriage Week (February 7 – 14), showed that marriages in England and Wales increased by 4.7% in 2003, to 267,700. This is the second successive annual increase in the number of marriages taking place and marks a pick-up from 2001, which recorded the lowest annual number of marriages since 1987.
The majority of the marriages (59%) that took place were the first marriages for the men and women involved, the same proportion as in 2002. However, remarriages for both parties increased by 1% to 19%, while first marriages for one party only, decreased to 22%.
The average age at marriage also increased slightly to 35.6 years for men and 32.9 years for women, compared to 35.3 and 32.6 respectively in 2002. The average age for first-time marriages rose slightly from 30.9 for men and 28.7 for women in 2002, to 31.2 and 28.9 respectively in 2003.
The report also found that more marriages are taking place in approved premises, such as hotels and stately homes. Such marriage ceremonies accounted for 27% of all marriages in 2003, compared with 24% in 2002. There has been a dramatic increase from 1996, the first full year when approved premises first became available - fewer than one in ten marriages took place in such venues in that year.
The ONS also found that civil marriages also accounted for over two-thirds (68%) of all marriages in 2003, with 181,500 taking place. This compared to 66% in 2002 and 51% in 1993.
(KMcA/SP)
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