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Marriage age in Germany at its highest
The average age at first marriage has risen to an all-time high in Germany. photo
© Silas Stein/dpa
People have never been this old when they get married for the first time. This is shown by figures from the Federal Statistical Office from 2022. At the same time, marriages have become significantly longer lasting.
According to the information, a good 609,800 people married for the first time in 2022. 36 percent were younger than 30 at the time. 20 years ago the proportion was 52 percent. The desire to get married increased, especially among middle-aged and older people: in 2022, a good 10 percent were 40 to 49 years old when they got married for the first time; in 2002 it was just under 6 percent. The difference increased even more significantly in the 50 plus age group: from a good one to almost seven percent.
As a background to the development, the Federal Office referred to the changing age structure of the population: the proportion of people over 50 years of age in the total population increased – from a good 36 percent at the end of 2002 to almost 45 percent 20 years later.
In total, around 781,500 people decided to get married in 2022. 78 percent were getting married for the first time, a good 20 percent were previously divorced and a good 1 percent were widowed. Almost three percent of marriages were between couples of the same sex.
Every second person is married or in a civil partnership
At the end of 2022, around 34.6 million people in Germany were married or living in a registered civil partnership, which, according to statistics, corresponds to a good 49 percent of the adult population. The highest proportion was among 65 to 69 year olds at just over two thirds (68 percent). Since October 2017, following a change in the law, same-sex couples have also been able to marry; previously there was the option of a registered civil partnership.
According to the information, the average age of divorce also rose to a high in 2022, at 44.7 years for women and 47.8 years for men – within 20 years by 5.8 years for women and 6.2 years for men. In 2022, a marriage lasted an average of 15.1 years until divorce; in 2002 it was 12.9 years. In 2022, around 137,400 marriages ended in divorce. Except for 2019, the number of divorces has fallen continuously since 2012, the Federal Office said.