Marriage rates fell by 7.7% over the last decade - CSO

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released figures indicating a notable shift in marital trends across Ireland over the past decade. The data reveals a 7.7% decrease in the number of marriages, with the total falling from 22,045 in 2014 to 20,348 in 2024. This decline suggests a changing landscape for formal unions within the country.

Perhaps more striking than the overall decrease is the significant change in ceremony preferences. Roman Catholic ceremonies, long the traditional choice for many Irish couples, have experienced a substantial drop of almost 51%. This has led to Civil Registrations emerging as the most popular form of ceremony in 2024, accounting for a larger share of weddings than religious services.

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Each year the CSO publishes detailed statistics as part of our series of releases on Marriages. These include the number of marriages, the ages of bride and groom, the county of marriage, and the form of ceremony. Today's release, which is a CSO Frontier Series, provides a 10-year analysis of the different types of marriage ceremonies chosen by people in Ireland, and how the types of ceremonies have changed over the years 2014-2024.

Furthermore, the data highlights a growing acceptance and preference for alternative ceremonies. Humanist ceremonies, in particular, have seen a remarkable 68% rise over the same ten-year period. This trend, alongside the popularity of Spiritualist Union of Ireland and OneSpirit ceremonies, indicates a diversification in how Irish couples choose to formalize their commitment, with these five types now making up 85% of all wedding ceremonies.

Seán O'Connor, a statistician at the CSO, emphasized that this release provides a detailed 10-year analysis of these evolving choices. The shift away from traditional religious ceremonies towards civil and humanist options reflects broader societal changes in Ireland, demonstrating a move towards more personalized and secular approaches to marriage.

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Overall, fewer couples are getting married in Ireland. Between 2014 and 2024, the number of marriages (including both opposite and same-sex couples) decreased by 7.7% from 22,045 to 20,348.