Marriages and partnership registrations; key figures
Changed on: 24 May 2024
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Marriages and partnership registrations; key figures
CONTENTS 1. General information 2. Definitions and explanation of symbols 3. Links to relevant tables and articles 4. Sources and methods 5. Further information 1. GENERAL INFORMATION This table includes data on contracted marriages and registered partnerships among the Dutch population. The following information is available: - Marriages by sex of the partners. - Marrying persons by sex and marital status before marriage. - Average age at marriage by sex and marital status. - Average number of contracted marriages by sex. - Partnership registrations by sex of the partners. Data available from: 1950 Status of the figures: All figures in this publication are final data. Changes per 24 May 2024: Final figures of 2023 have been added. When will new figures be published? Figures of 2024 will be added in the 2nd quarter of 2025. 2. DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS Definitions: Age Age on 31 December of the year of marriage. Calculated as year of marriage minus year of birth. Average age at marriage The arithmetic mean of all ages of marrying persons. Average number of marriages per person The arithmetic mean of the number of marriages a person will enter into during his/her life, if the age-specific marriage rate observed in that year were to apply for the rest of the person's life. Including persons in same-sex marriages. Marital status Legal status involving someone's rights and competences as determined by legal marriage and registered partnership. Marriage Contracting a marriage. From October 1994: the figures refer to married couples of which at least one partner is recorded in the municipal registers, irrespective of the country where the marriage was performed. Until October 1994: the figures refer to all marriages contracted in the Netherlands, irrespective of registration of the person(s) in the municipal registers. Marrying persons Person who have married. Marriage: Legal, formally sanctioned living arrangement between two people. Which marrying persons are counted? Marrying persons registered in the population register of a Dutch municipality at the time of the marriage . Including persons in same-sex marriages. Partnership registration A marriage-like relationship recorded at the registry office. Partnership registration is open to same-sex and different-sex couples. Registered partnership was introduced in the Netherlands on 1 January 1998. The figures refer to registered partnerships of which at least one partner is recorded in the municipal registers of a Dutch municipality. Population The total number of people residing in The Netherlands. In the population statistics compiled by Statistics Netherlands the inhabitants are the people registered in the population register of a Dutch municipality. Explanation of symbols: Empty cell : figure not applicable . : figure is unknown, insufficiently reliable or confidential * : provisional figure ** : revised provisional figure 3. LINKS TO RELEVANT TABLES AND ARTICLES Relevant table: Monthly figures, only in Dutch: Huwen, partnerschap; sluiting en ontbinding per maand Huwen, partnerschap; personen naar geslacht per maand General information on population statistics is available at the Population theme page. 4. SOURCES AND METHODS Break in series late reports Until 2010, reports on events taking place in a certain year received by Statistics Netherlands after 15 February in the following year were disregarded. These are so-called late reports. As a result of an improvement in the production process, from 2010 these late reports are included in the year of publication (i.e. not in the year the event took place, but in the year the results are published). Break in series marriages and marrying people As a result of an improved production process, a slight increase can be observed in the figures on marriages and marrying people from 2010. From 2010 onwards marriages taking place abroad in particular are measured more accurately. Break in series marital status From 2010 onwards a small shift has occurred between a number of marital statuses (fewer never married and more married, divorced and widowed respectively). Because information on some marital statuses was lacking for the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, 'partnership', 'divorced after partnership' and 'widowed after partnership' were not included in these statistics for this period. For these statistics, the marital status before the partnership was used instead, which was mostly 'never married'. From 2010 all marital statuses are available. Population The figures are based on information from the municipal population registers. Accuracy and reliability Occasionally, the information Statistics Netherlands receives is incomplete. In these cases, an estimate is made on the basis of the available information. Used data sources (outside Statistics Netherlands) Municipal population registers. 5. FURTHER INFORMATION Infoservice Copyright (c) Statistics Netherlands, The Hague/Heerlen Reproduction is permitted, provided Statistics Netherlands is quoted as the source.
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Topics
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Marriages
Contracted marriages Break in the series for marriages and marrying individuals Due to improvements in the production process there has been a slight increase in the marriage figures from 2010 onwards. As of 2010 the marriages abroad are observed better. The slight increase of the share of migration marriages in 2010, which mainly takes place among Moroccans, is entirely explained by the improved method. Excluding registered partnership From October 1994: the figures refer to married couples of which at least one partner is recorded in the municipal registers, irrespective of the country where the marriage was performed. Until October 1994: the figures refer to all marriages contracted in the Netherlands, irrespective of registration of the person(s) in the municipal registers.
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Total marriages
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Between man and woman
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Between men
Since 1 April 2001, it is legally possible for people in the Netherlands to marry a person of the same sex.
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Between women
Since 1 April 2001, it is legally possible for people in the Netherlands to marry a person of the same sex.
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Marrying persons
Marrying persons Break in the series for marriages and marrying individuals Due to improvements in the production process there has been a slight increase in the marriage figures from 2010 onwards. As of 2010 the marriages abroad are observed better. The slight increase of the share of migration marriages in 2010, which mainly takes place among Moroccans, is entirely explained by the improved method. Excluding persons in registered partnerships. Which marrying persons are counted? Marrying persons registered in the population register of a Dutch municipality at the time of the marriage. Including persons in same-sex marriages. Marriage: Legal, formally sanctioned living arrangement between two people. Partnership registration: A marriage-like relationship recorded at the registry office. Partnership registration is open to same-sex and different-sex couples. Registered partnership was introduced in the Netherlands on 1 January 1998.
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By sex and marital status
Marrying persons by marital status for marriage Break in series marital status From 2010 onwards a small shift has occurred between a number of marital statuses (fewer never married and more married, divorced and widowed respectively). Because information on some marital statuses was lacking for the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, 'partnership', 'divorced after partnership' and 'widowed after partnership' were not included in these statistics for this period. For these statistics, the marital status before the partnership was used instead, which was mostly 'never married'. From 2010 all marital statuses are available. Marital status: Legal status involving someone's rights and competences as determined by legal marriage and registered partnership. Registered partnership: A marriage-like relationship between two people of the opposite or same sex, registered at the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
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Men
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Total men
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Never married
From 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership. 1998 to 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after never married'. For 'widowed after partnership' and 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Including marital status unknown.
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Partnership
Men ending registered partnership by changing it into a marriage. Available from 2010. Partnership Marital status resulting from entering into a registered partnership.
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Widowed
From 2010: widowed after a legal marriage and widowed after a partnership. From 1998 to 2010: widowed after a legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after widowed'. For 'widowed after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998 widowed after a legal marriage. Widowed after a legal marriage Marital status resulting from death ending a legal marriage. Widowed after partnership Marital status resulting from death ending a registered partnership.
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Divorced
From 2010: divorced after legal marriage and divorced after partnership. 1998 to 2010: divorced after legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in data in the period 1998 tot 2010 used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after divorced'. For 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: divorced after legal marriage. Divorced after a legal marriage Marital status resulting from ending a legal marriage by divorce. Excluding judicial separations which are included in the category married. Divorced after a partnership Marital status resulting from ending a registered partnership other than by the death of the partner.
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Women
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Total women
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Never married
From 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership. 1998 to 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after never married'. For 'widowed after partnership' and 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Including marital status unknown.
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Partnership
Men ending registered partnership by changing it into a marriage. Available from 2010. Partnership Marital status resulting from entering into a registered partnership.
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Widowed
From 2010: widowed after a legal marriage and widowed after a partnership. From 1998 to 2010: widowed after a legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after widowed'. For 'widowed after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998 widowed after a legal marriage. Widowed after a legal marriage Marital status resulting from death ending a legal marriage. Widowed after partnership Marital status resulting from death ending a registered partnership.
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Divorced
From 2010: divorced after legal marriage and divorced after partnership. 1998 to 2010: divorced after legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in data in the period 1998 tot 2010 used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after divorced'. For 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: divorced after legal marriage. Divorced after a legal marriage Marital status resulting from ending a legal marriage by divorce. Excluding judicial separations which are included in the category married. Divorced after a partnership Marital status resulting from ending a registered partnership other than by the death of the partner.
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Average age at marriage
Break in the series for marriages and marrying individuals Due to improvements in the production process there has been a slight increase in the marriage figures from 2010 onwards. As of 2010 the marriages abroad are observed better. The slight increase of the share of migration marriages in 2010, which mainly takes place among Moroccans, is entirely explained by the improved method. Average age at marriage (excluding registered partnership) by sex and previous marital status. Average age at marriage: The arithmetic mean of all ages of marrying persons. Age: The number of whole years that have passed between someone's date of birth and 31 December of the year of marriage, calculated as the year of marriage minus the year of birth. Break in series marital status From 2010 onwards a small shift has occurred between a number of marital statuses (fewer never married and more married, divorced and widowed respectively). Because information on some marital statuses was lacking for the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, 'partnership', 'divorced after partnership' and 'widowed after partnership' were not included in these statistics for this period. For these statistics, the marital status before the partnership was used instead, which was mostly 'never married'. From 2010 all marital statuses are available. Marital status: Legal status involving someone's rights and competences as determined by legal marriage and registered partnership. Registered partnership: A marriage-like relationship recorded at the registry office. Partnership registration is open to same-sex and different-sex couples. Registered partnership was introduced in the Netherlands on 1 January 1998.
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Men
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Total men
Average age of all male marriage partners.
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Never married
From 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership. 1998 to 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after never married'. For 'widowed after partnership' and 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Including marital status unknown.
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Partnership
Ending registered partnership by converting it to a marriage. Available from 2010. Partnership: Marital status resulting from entering into a registered partnership.
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Widowed
From 2010: widowed after a legal marriage and widowed after a partnership. From 1998 to 2010: widowed after a legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after widowed'. For 'widowed after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998 widowed after a legal marriage. Widowed after a legal marriage: Marital status resulting from death ending a legal marriage. Widowed after partnership: Marital status resulting from death ending a registered partnership.
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Divorced
From 2010: divorced after legal marriage and divorced after partnership. 1998 to 2010: divorced after legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in data in the period 1998 tot 2010 used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after divorced'. For 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: divorced after legal marriage. Divorced after a legal marriage Marital status resulting from ending a legal marriage by divorce. Excluding judicial separations which are included in the category married. Divorced after a partnership Marital status resulting from ending a registered partnership other than by the death of the partner.
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Women
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Total women
Average age of all female marriage partners.
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Never married
Marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership. From 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership. 1998 to 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after never married'. For 'widowed after partnership' and 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Including marital status unknown.
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Partnership
Ending registered partnership by converting it to a marriage. Available from 2010. Partnership: Marital status resulting from entering into a registered partnership.
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Widowed
From 2010: widowed after a legal marriage and widowed after a partnership. From 1998 to 2010: widowed after a legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after widowed'. For 'widowed after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998 widowed after a legal marriage. Widowed after a legal marriage: Marital status resulting from death ending a legal marriage. Widowed after partnership: Marital status resulting from death ending a registered partnership.
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Divorced
From 2010: divorced after legal marriage and divorced after partnership. 1998 to 2010: divorced after legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in data in the period 1998 tot 2010 used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after divorced'. For 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: divorced after legal marriage. Divorced after a legal marriage Marital status resulting from ending a legal marriage by divorce. Excluding judicial separations which are included in the category married. Divorced after a partnership Marital status resulting from ending a registered partnership other than by the death of the partner.
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Partnership registrations
A marriage-like relationship recorded at the registry office. Partnership registration is open to same-sex and different-sex couples. Registered partnership was introduced in the Netherlands on 1 January 1998. The figures refer to registered partnerships of which at least one partner is recorded in the municipal registers of a Dutch municipality.
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Total partnership registrations
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Total partnership registrations
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Between man and woman
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Between men
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Between women
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New partnerships
Registered partnerships of persons with former marital status never married, widowed or divorced. Never married: Marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership. From 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership. 1998 to 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after never married'. For 'widowed after partnership' and 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, wich was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: marital status indicating that someone was never married. Widowed: From 2010: widowed after a legal marriage and widowed after a partnership. 1998 to 2010: widowed after a legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after widowed'. For 'widowed after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, wich was mostly unmarried. Until 1998 widowed after a legal marriage. Widowed after a legal marriage: Marital status resulting from death ending a legal marriage. Widowed after a partnership: Marital status resulting from death ending a registered partnership. Divorced: From 2010: divorced after legal marriage and divorced after partnership. 1998 to 2010: divorced after legal marriage. Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in data in the period 1998 tot 2010 used by Statistics Netherlands, partnerships were not included in this period. For these statistics, this results in data including 'partnership after divorced'. For 'divorced after partnership' the marital status before the partnership was used, wich was mostly unmarried. Until 1998: divorced after legal marriage. Divorced after a legal marriage: Marital status resulting from ending a legal marriage by divorce. Excluding legal seductions. Divorced after partnership: Marital status resulting from ending a registered partnership other than by the death of the partner.
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Total new partnership registrations
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Periods
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1950
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1970
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1990
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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Show options
Topic
MarriagesTotal marriages
Total marriages
MarriagesBetween man and woman
Between man and woman
MarriagesBetween men
Between men
MarriagesBetween women
Between women
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusMenTotal men
By sex and marital status
Men
Total men
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusMenNever married
By sex and marital status
Men
Never married
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusMenPartnership
By sex and marital status
Men
Partnership
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusMenWidowed
By sex and marital status
Men
Widowed
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusMenDivorced
By sex and marital status
Men
Divorced
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusWomenTotal women
By sex and marital status
Women
Total women
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusWomenNever married
By sex and marital status
Women
Never married
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusWomenPartnership
By sex and marital status
Women
Partnership
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusWomenWidowed
By sex and marital status
Women
Widowed
Marrying personsBy sex and marital statusWomenDivorced
By sex and marital status
Women
Divorced
Average age at marriageMenTotal men
Men
Total men
Average age at marriageMenNever married
Men
Never married
Average age at marriageMenPartnership
Men
Partnership
Average age at marriageMenWidowed
Men
Widowed
Average age at marriageMenDivorced
Men
Divorced
Average age at marriageWomenTotal women
Women
Total women
Average age at marriageWomenNever married
Women
Never married
Average age at marriageWomenPartnership
Women
Partnership
Average age at marriageWomenWidowed
Women
Widowed
Average age at marriageWomenDivorced
Women
Divorced
Partnership registrationsTotal partnership registrationsTotal partnership registrations
Total partnership registrations
Total partnership registrations
Partnership registrationsTotal partnership registrationsBetween man and woman
Total partnership registrations
Between man and woman
Partnership registrationsTotal partnership registrationsBetween men
Total partnership registrations
Between men
Partnership registrationsTotal partnership registrationsBetween women
Total partnership registrations
Between women
Partnership registrationsNew partnershipsTotal new partnership registrations
New partnerships
Total new partnership registrations
Horizontal axis
Years
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Period
- Years
Variables can be dragged to the header, rows or columns of the table. In the header only one item of a variable can be selected.
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| 1950 | 1970 | 1990 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | ||
Marriages Total marriages | number | 83,110 | 123,631 | 95,649 | 50,233 | 56,419 | 70,608 | 67,959 | |
Between man and woman | number | 83,110 | 123,631 | 95,649 | 49,119 | 55,227 | 68,894 | 66,333 | |
Between men | number | 448 | 527 | 765 | 799 | ||||
Between women | number | 666 | 665 | 949 | 827 | ||||
Marrying persons By sex and marital status Men Total men | number | 82,389 | 122,287 | 97,321 | 48,224 | 54,326 | 68,125 | 65,486 | |
Never married | number | 72,941 | 113,399 | 80,409 | 35,931 | 41,545 | 51,112 | 49,526 | |
Partnership | number | 1,090 | 1,395 | 2,884 | 2,906 | ||||
Widowed | number | 4,053 | 3,187 | 1,270 | 1,132 | 1,011 | 1,211 | 1,164 | |
Divorced | number | 5,395 | 5,701 | 15,642 | 10,071 | 10,375 | 12,918 | 11,890 | |
Women Total women | number | 82,572 | 123,521 | 97,148 | 47,079 | 52,734 | 65,881 | 62,697 | |
Never married | number | 74,620 | 116,141 | 81,476 | 35,555 | 40,967 | 50,389 | 48,148 | |
Partnership | number | 1,093 | 1,370 | 2,881 | 2,887 | ||||
Widowed | number | 2,976 | 1,812 | 970 | 947 | 872 | 1,050 | 934 | |
Divorced | number | 4,976 | 5,568 | 14,702 | 9,484 | 9,525 | 11,561 | 10,728 | |
Average age at marriage Men Total men | year | 30.0 | 26.2 | 30.7 | 38.8 | 38.3 | 39.1 | 39.1 | |
Never married | year | 28.0 | 24.7 | 28.2 | 34.3 | 34.3 | 35.1 | 35.1 | |
Partnership | year | 40.0 | 39.4 | 39.5 | 39.9 | ||||
Widowed | year | 52.1 | 56.9 | 57.0 | 63.7 | 64.4 | 64.8 | 64.5 | |
Divorced | year | 39.4 | 39.1 | 41.6 | 51.7 | 51.9 | 52.5 | 52.7 | |
Women Total women | year | 26.9 | 23.7 | 28.0 | 35.9 | 35.5 | 36.4 | 36.3 | |
Never married | year | 25.6 | 22.7 | 25.9 | 31.8 | 31.9 | 32.8 | 32.9 | |
Partnership | year | 37.3 | 36.6 | 37.0 | 37.1 | ||||
Widowed | year | 44.5 | 53.2 | 52.5 | 60.4 | 61.1 | 61.2 | 60.9 | |
Divorced | year | 36.3 | 35.2 | 37.9 | 48.4 | 48.6 | 49.3 | 49.4 | |
Partnership registrations Total partnership registrations Total partnership registrations | number | 24,136 | 26,149 | 24,128 | 23,030 | ||||
Between man and woman | number | 23,366 | 25,321 | 23,324 | 22,217 | ||||
Between men | number | 347 | 363 | 380 | 390 | ||||
Between women | number | 423 | 465 | 424 | 423 | ||||
New partnerships Total new partnership registrations | number | 24,136 | 26,149 | 24,128 | 23,030 |
Source: CBS