MEDIA RELEASE
25 November 2015	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	128/2015

On Saturday 12 April 2014, Australia echoed to the sound of "I do", as 2,056 couples exchanged vows across the country. This was the day in 2014 when the most marriages were celebrated, according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

"Most marriages take place in spring and autumn with almost two-thirds of all marriages occurring in these seasons," said Paull Hoffmann from the ABS.

"In 2014, there were 121,197 marriages registered in Australia. Most marriages (79.4 per cent) were between couples who had lived together prior to marriage."

"Almost three-quarters of these marriages (72.5 per cent) were between couples who had never married before and most were performed by civil celebrants (74.1 per cent). This was the first marriage for about 81 per cent of all brides and 80 per cent of grooms."

Median age at marriage has remained stable for both males and females for the last ten years following many years of gradual increases. The median age at marriage in 2014 was 31.5 years for males and 29.6 years for females. Age-specific marriage rates provide a more detailed picture of the age at which people marry. In 2014, the highest age–specific marriage rates were for people between 25–29 years of age.

"In 2014, there were 46,498 divorces granted in Australia, equating to approximately 2 divorces for every 1,000 people," said Mr Hoffmann.

"In 2014, 41.5 per cent (19,281) of the divorces were the result of a joint application and 47 per cent involved children under the age of 18."

"The median duration of the marriages that ended in divorce in 2014 was 12 years. The median duration of these marriages to separation was 8.4 years."

More than half (58.6 per cent) of the females granted a divorce in 2014 were under 45 years of age at divorce compared with 49.1 per cent of males.

Further information can be found in Marriages and Divorces, Australia (cat. no 3310.0) available for free download from the ABS website (www.abs.gov.au)


Media notes:

• When reporting ABS data, you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
• Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications section on 1300 175 070.