Marriages 2006
|
2006
|
2005
|
1996
|
|
| Marriages |
22,089
|
21,335
|
16,174
|
| Average age of groom |
33.2
|
33.1
|
30.2
|
| Average age of bride |
31.2
|
31.0
|
28.4
|
| Civil Marriages |
5,127
|
4,762
|
928
|
Civil marriages account for over 23% of marriages
The number of marriages registered in 2006 was 22,089, 5.2 per 1,000 of the population. This compares with a total of 21,355 (5.2 per 1,000 of population) in 2005 and 16,174 (4.5 per 1,000 of population) in 1996.
These figures are contained in the Central Statistics Office’s Vital Statistics, Marriages report for 2006.
The number of civil marriages was 5,127 or just over 23% of all marriages in 2006, an increase of 365 on the 2005 figure. In 1996, there were 928 civil marriages (6%) in Ireland. The number of Roman Catholic marriage ceremonies was 16,211 in 2006 and accounted for 73% of all marriages in the year, compared with 74% in 2005 and 90% in 1996.
The average age of grooms in 2006 was 33.2 years, compared with 33.1 years in 2005 and 30.2 years in 1996. The pattern for brides is similar with the average age increasing from 28.4 years in 1996 to 31.0 and 31.2 years in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
There were 20,411 (92.4%) grooms and 20,713 (93.8%) brides marrying for the first time in 2006. This compares with over 99% of grooms and brides marrying for the first time in 1996, when divorce was not yet legalised. There were 201 (0.9%) widowers and 147 (0.7%) widows who married in 2006. Divorced men accounted for 6.7% (1,477) of grooms while divorced women accounted for 5.6% (1,229) of brides.
There were 2,253 marriages involving at least one divorced person in 2006, including 453 marriages where both parties were divorced. Civil ceremonies accounted for 1,851 of these marriages, 260 were Roman Catholic ceremonies, and 142 were other religious ceremonies.
The average age of grooms marrying for the first time was 32.1 years. The average age among widowers was 56.0 years, and the average age among divorced men was 46.3 years. For brides, women marrying for the first time had an average age of 30.4 years, widows 50.6 years, and divorced women 42.9 years.
The most popular month for marriage in 2006 was August, when 14% of marriages occurred, while January was the least popular month with just 3% of marriages occurring during that month. Friday was the most popular day of the week to get married with 36% of marriages occurring on that day. The least popular day was Sunday when just over 1% of marriages were recorded.
Marriages 2006 is available on our website www.cso.ie.
For more information contact Sandra Tobin (LoCall 1890 313 414 ext 5307).
Internet address: www.cso.ie
30 June 2009
— ENDS —