For many people, the day they say “I do” is one they’ll always cherish and look back on fondly. But how many Aussies say these simple yet life-transforming little words? And how do they go about it?
To help you make heads or tails of it, we’ve compiled some facts and stats about marriage rates in Australia, weddings, couples, Australian dating and marriage customs, and so much more to keep you entertained, or even help you plan your own shindig.
Let’s take the plunge!
Marriage Statistics in Australia That Are Just Icing on the Cake
- 113,815 marriages were registered in Australia in 2019.
- The national marriage rate decreased by 62.2% in Q2 2020.
- In 2019, the crude marriage rate was 4.5 per 1,000 people.
- In 2019, the median age at marriage for men was 32.3 years and 30.5 for women.
- The average Australian divorce happens after 12.2 years together.
- 4.8% of all marriages in Australia in 2019 were same-sex ones.
- In 2020, the average wedding price in Australia was $27,228.
- The average couple spends $7,307 on their honeymoon.
- The average wedding venue costs Australians $14,705.
- Internet dating is expected to attract 3.2 million Aussie users by 2025.
Marriage Statistics in Australia
1. 113,815 marriages were registered in Australia in 2019.
(Australian Bureau of Statistics)
The number of couples getting hitched in Oz has been pretty constant over the years. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions have had a significant impact on marriage in Australia.
Namely, in the six months between January and June 2020, only 37,813 marriages were registered, the figures as of August of that year show. Compared to the averages in the corresponding six-month periods in the previous five years, this was a 31.9% drop.
2. The national marriage rate decreased by 62.2% in Q2 2020.
Looking at the specifics of the coronavirus-related decline in marriage rates in Australia, the biggest dips in comparison to the same quarter of the previous five years’ averages expectedly happened between April and June, namely of 71.4% in April, 57.6% in May, and 51.8% in June 2020.
3. In 2019, the crude marriage rate was 4.5 per 1,000 people.
Matrimony isn’t as popular in Australia as it once was. Between 1999 and 2019, the crude marriage rate per 1,000 estimated resident population has been steadily declining. The lowest-ever was recorded in 2019, at 4.5 marriages per 1,000 residents.
4. In 2019, the median age at marriage for men was 32.3 years and 30.5 for women.
The average marriage age in Australia has ticked up over the past two decades. For males, the median age of marriage increased from 30.1 in 1999 to 32.3 years in 2019, while for females from 27.9 to 31.5. These numbers take into account both the first marriage and remarriage rates.
5. In 2019, almost a third of the people who got married were aged 25-29.
According to 2019 statistics, Aussies tend to tie the knot the most in their mid-to-late 20s. 33.1% of females and 27.9% of males did so when they were this age. In addition, 26.2% of men and 23.6% of women got married when they were 30-34, which was the second most common age to take the plunge. Newlyweds aged 35-39 came in third with 13.1% of men and 10.7% of women.
By the way, in case you’re wondering, “how old do you have to be to get married in Australia” the answer is at least 16.
6. 32.4% of Aussie couples in 2019 got married in the spring.
It seems that March is the best month to get married in Australia, since the highest proportion of marriages in 2019 occurred then, at 12.6%. The second most popular month was November, with 11.6% of marriages, while October was third with 11.4% of all nuptials that year. The least popular month for weddings was December, chosen by only 4.4% of couples.
Interestingly, 1,976 ceremonies occurred on Saturday, October 19, making it the most popular wedding date of that year.
7. The number of marriages in Australia dropped by 4.5% between 2018 and 2019.
All states and territories recorded a year-over-year decrease in marriage rates in Australia between 2018 and 2019, except the Northern Territory, which recorded ten more marriages (805) in 2019 than the previous year. The marriage facts tell us that all other states saw a decline:
- There were 40,583 marriages in NSW in 2018 but 39,596 in 2019.
- In Victoria, there were 30,152 marriages in 2018, while a year later 28,634.
- The numbers in Qld decreased from 23,641 to 22,152.
- In SA, they plummeted the most, from 7,741 to 7,125.
- In Western Australia, marriages dropped from 12,219 to 11,661.
- There were 2,385 nuptials in Tas in 2019, 112 fewer than the previous year.
- The ACT registered 1,562 marriages in 2018, whereas in 2019—just 1,461.
8. The average Australian divorce happens after 12.2 years together.
The length of marriages has been pretty consistent over the past couple of decades. According to wedding statistics in Australia, the average marriage ends after a dozen years or so. In turn, the median time from marriage to separation in 2019 was 8.5 years.
Marriage Facts in Australia
9. In 2017, 81.3% of Australian marriages were preceded by cohabitation.
(Australian Institute of Family Studies)
Unlike in the past, people living together before getting married is pretty common in Australia nowadays. In fact, by 2017, over four out of five Australian newlyweds had cohabited before their big day.
10. In 2017, civil Australian marriage celebrants performed 78% of weddings.
Civil marriage in Australia became more common than religious marriage in the 1970s and has been more prevalent ever since. By 2017, 78% of all marriages in Australia were being performed by civil celebrants, while by Q2 2020, that number had climbed to 80%.
Same-Sex Marriage Statistics
11. 4.8% of all marriages in Australia in 2019 were same-sex ones.
The gay marriage in Australia facts tell us that it was legalised in Australia on December 9, 2017. The following year, 6,538 such unions were registered, followed by a 15.8% decline in 2019, when there were 5,507.
Same-sex marriages seem to have a strong union as divorce rates show that only less than 1% decided to end it.
12. In 2019, female same-sex marriages accounted for 58.9% of the total.
Both in 2018 and 2019, more female same-sex couples walked down the aisle in Australia than male ones. In 2018, there were 3,781 female same-sex marriages and 2,757 male ones. A year later, the number was 3,243 weddings between women (58.9%) and 2,262 between men (41.1%).
Wedding Costs in Australia
13. In 2020, the average wedding price in Australia was $27,228.
(Easy Weddings)
Most newlyweds-to-be spent upwards of $25,931 on their special day in 2020. However, this was a 15% decrease compared to previous years, since people used to plan to drop at least $32,000 on celebrating their unions.
14. 60% of Australian newlyweds’ parents helped them with the wedding costs in 2020.
When Aussie couples find out the answer to the question “how much does the average Australian wedding cost” they might realise that they can’t afford their dream day all on their own. A 2020 survey of over 4,000 couples found that three in five of them were getting financial help from their parents to make it happen. Nonetheless, 39% of brides and grooms-to-be paid for the wedding themselves, whereas 8% even took out a loan to cover the cost.
15. Almost half of Aussie weddings in 2021-22 will have a rustic theme.
The latest trends indicate that the most popular themes for a wedding ceremony in Australia in these post-Covid times are:
- Rustic
- Outdoor
- Modern
- Traditional
- Bohemian
16. The average couple spends $7,307 on their honeymoon.
Typically, Aussies go on honeymoons that last from a week to a month and fork over $5,000-$10,000 for them. On a standard 15-day jaunt, Oz couples spend around $507 a day. As many as 70% of newlyweds decide to take such a trip, 24% are unsure, while 5% put it on the backburner.
The top destinations are Europe, Fiji and the USA. This isn’t a surprise because there were 1 million Aussie visitors in the US in 2019, and Nadi, Fiji is one of the beautiful yet less expensive countries to visit.
17. The average wedding venue costs Australians $14,705.
With a price tag of $156 per person, booking a wedding venue on average costs close to $15,000 overall. According to wedding statistics in Australia from 2020, it eats up about 40-50% of a couple’s total budget for their big day, more than any other item.
18. In 2020, the average wedding catering in Australia cost $9,891.
Seeing a 2% increase from 2019, wedding catering in 2020 on average costs nearly $10,000. This comes in at $100 per person if we assume that the number of guests is 98, i.e. the national average.
According to Australian wedding industry statistics, though, catering costs vary by state. For example, in Victoria, the average amount of money spent is $12,330, in WA $10,784, while in New South Wales, $9,213. On average, a little less money is spent on catering in the ACT—$7,192, South Australia—$6,322, and Queensland—$5,754.
19. Oz couples are willing to spend an average of $3,983 on wedding photography.
(AISC’s Moneysmart)
Wedding photographer prices likewise vary by state and might even exclude the charges for travel, albums, photo editing, etc. For example, according to AISC’s Moneysmart survey, when it comes to a wedding ceremony in Australia, couples tend to spend the most on photos—$3,983 on average.
20. The average price of wedding videography in Australia is $2,000-$6,000
(flarefilms)
Yes, this is a wide price range, but it mostly depends on what the couple decides to include in the package. For example, in NSW, they’d pay around $3,460 for a videographer, 10 hours of filming, a reception video, recording of the whole ceremony and the reception speeches, a five-minute video of highlights, and online/USB video files delivery.
21. The average wedding dress costs $2,637.
Getting married in Melbourne or Sydney can be pricier than elsewhere since one of the essentials is the wedding dress, accounting for up to 7% of the overall budget. Namely, its average price tag in New South Wales can run up to $2,918, whereas in Vic to $2,886.
In South Australia, brides are willing to pony up $2,575 for their dream dress, while in the Northern Territory—$2,625. On average, a wedding gown in the ACT goes for $2,024, in Tas for $2,327, in Western Australia for $2,497, while in Qld for $2,038.
22. The music accounts for around $1,693 of the total wedding costs in Australia.
In some states, marrying couples really splurge on the entertainment. For example, in New South Wales, they’re willing to part with $1,888, in the ACT with $1,821, while in Victoria with $1,738. On the other hand, newlyweds in Queensland ($1,475), South Australia ($1,325), West Australia ($1,483), and Tasmania ($1,281) tend to spend a bit below the average on the wedding band or DJ.
23. The average price of wedding flowers is $500-$2,000.
(Oneflare)
According to wedding statistics in Australia, the price of flowers for this special occasion can be highest in Sydney (NSW), at $500-$2,000. In Melbourne, the price is a bit lower, at $800-$1,700.
In other cities, they can be significantly more affordable. For example:
- Brisbane $500-$1,200
- Canberra $600-$1,500
- Perth $500-1,500
- Darwin $500-$1,300
- Hobart $700-$1,400
- Adelaide $500-$1,400
And, of course, no bride can walk down the aisle without her bouquet, which can cost anywhere from $115-$300.
24. The average Oz wedding costs about a third less than the average US one.
(CNBC) (The Knot)
The average American wedding in 2019 set couples back around $33,900 (which calculated in Australian dollars was $45,183 at the time of writing, or $17,955 more than the average wedding price in Australia in 2020).
However, we have to take into account the fact that ceremonies in the USA are some of the most expensive in the world (almost quadruple the cost of those in other countries) and have a higher number of guests (126 on average), thus incurring more costs.
Internet Dating Statistics
25. Online dating revenue in Australia is set to reach $59 million in 2021.
(Statista)
Online dating in Australia is on the rise especially with 89% of Aussies are internet users. Between 2021 and 2025, the revenue from it is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.3% to projected market volume of $62 million by 2025. The average revenue per dating app user is projected at $18.6.
26. Internet dating is expected to attract 3.2 million Aussie users by 2025.
User penetration in Australia is expected to reach 12.3% in 2021, while over the following four years, it’s predicted to be similar, at 12%. These rates are relatively close to the USA’s 15.2%, the highest in the world.
27. In 2019, 44% of dating app users in Australia were 25-34 years old.
(Crikey)
According to the Statista Global Consumer Survey conducted in 2019, most dating app users in Australia were 25-34-year-olds—44%. 24% of users were aged 35-44, putting them in second place, while 55-64 year-olds did 16% of all internet dating. Only 12% of users were younger, or 18-24 years old. The people using dating apps the least were 45-54-year-olds—only 4%.
28. In 2019, 76% of the users of dating sites in Australia were men.
Australian men are three times more likely to be on dating apps than women. In 2019, more than three-quarters of the users of dating sites in Australia were male, whereas just 24% were female.
29. 44.4% of Australians using dating apps are low-income.
Almost half of the people who liked using dating apps in 2019 had a low income. In turn, an equal proportion of people with medium and high income liked internet dating—27.8% of each group.
30. In 2020, there were 1.3 million non-paying dating app users in Australia.
The numbers of both paying and non-paying users of dating sites in Australia increased in the two years between 2017 and 2019, reaching 0.5 million paying and 1.4 million non-paying ones. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of non-paying users dropped to 1.3 million in 2020.
Tying Things Up in a Neat Little Bow
As the pandemic winds down, marriage rates in Australia will likely climb. We’ll probably end up attending many weddings over the next couple of years, so hopefully, these facts have prepared you well for it.
Or maybe you’re one of those people whose nuptials are pending and went into this article wondering, “what do I need to get married in Australia”? If that’s the case, we hope that we were able to answer all your burning questions about everything, from how much it’ll cost you to what theme you should pick. Either way, cheers!
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Institute of Family Studies
- CNBC
- Crikey
- Easy Weddings
- Easy Weddings
- Easy Weddings
- Easy Weddings
- Easy Weddings
- Easy Weddings
- Oneflare
- flarefilms
- AISC’s Moneysmart
- Statista
- The Knot
