Perth, July 28: Australians are becoming less likely to tie the knot, with new figures showing both the number of marriages and the marriage rate declined in 2025, even as couples who do marry are staying together longer.
There were 118,804 marriages registered across Australia in 2025, down by 2,040 from the previous year. The marriage rate also slipped from 5.5 to 5.3 marriages per 1,000 people aged 16 and over, continuing a gradual decline in Australians choosing to marry.
Despite the overall downturn, spring remains the nation’s favourite wedding season.
Saturday, 25 October 2025 was the standout date of the year, with 2,035 couples exchanging vows.
It comfortably outpaced the second most popular wedding day, Saturday, 22 November, which recorded 1,527 marriages.
The popularity of memorable dates continues to be a feature of Australian weddings. However, they still don’t rival the record-breaking 10 November 2012, when an astonishing 3,081 couples married in a single day.
The next most popular wedding date of the past two decades remains 11 November 2011, with 2,614 marriages.
Marriage equality trends have remained steady, with around 3.9 per cent of all marriages in 2025 involving either same-sex couples or a partner who identified as non-binary. That proportion has remained largely unchanged over the past three years.
While fewer Australians are getting married, slightly more are ending their marriages.
The divorce rate increased to 2.2 divorces per 1,000 people aged 16 and over in 2025, up marginally from the previous year. Even so, the longer-term picture is more positive. Two decades ago, in 2005, the divorce rate stood at 3.3, highlighting a significant decline over time.
The figures also suggest that marriages are lasting longer before breaking down. The median time from marriage to separation has increased to 9.4 years, compared with 8.8 years in 2005.
Together, the latest statistics paint a picture of changing relationship patterns in Australia.
Fewer couples are choosing to marry, but those who do appear to be building longer-lasting relationships. At the same time, Australians continue to embrace spring weddings and, when the calendar aligns just right, memorable dates remain irresistible for thousands of couples planning their big day.
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