Marriages in England and Wales fell by nine per cent last year, continuing a declining trend, new figures show, while civil partnerships rose by almost the same percentage, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported.
A total of 224,402 marriages were recorded in 2023, a 9.1 per cent decrease from 246,897 in 2022. In contrast, civil partnerships increased by 9.7 per cent, with 7,547 unions compared to 6,879.
The ONS attributed the marriage decline to a "post-pandemic spike" in 2022, most likely due to ceremonies postponed during coronavirus lockdowns.
August remained the most popular month for tying the knot, though the most common wedding day shifted from July to 2 September.
Kara Steel, from the ONS, said: “The number of marriages has been steadily decreasing over the last 50 years, dropping 44 per cent between 1973 and 2023.
“There was a post-pandemic spike in marriages in 2022, perhaps due to weddings postponed or delayed from lockdown, but 2023 saw a return to the overall trend of declining marriage.
“In 2023, the most popular day for weddings shifted from July to the 2nd of September, although August remained the most popular month overall.”
Opposite-sex marriages remained the most common type of legal partnership formed in 2023, accounting for 216,901 or 93.5 per cent.
There were 231,949 marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales in 2023, an 8.6% decrease from 2022. This may reflect the end of a short-term rise in weddings which were postponed due to COVID restrictions.
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) November 18, 2025
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/ViZ38R7v7X pic.twitter.com/A923wYk52s
Harry Benson, research director of the Marriage Foundation, said the year-on-year drop in opposite-sex weddings “conceals the long tail of lockdown”, suggesting many of those whose weddings could not take place in lockdown might still not have rearranged their nuptials.
He said: “That so many couples appear to have abandoned their wedding plans is incredibly sad for them, their friends and families. But it may also have a serious knock-on effect on commitment.”
The average age at which people embarked on an opposite-sex marriage in 2023 remained among the highest recorded, at 34.8 years old for men and 33 years old for women.
For same-sex marriages, men were aged on average 37.4 years old, while women were 34 years old, the ONS said, “supporting the trend of same-sex partners forming marriages at an older age than opposite-sex couples”.
For opposite-sex civil partnerships, men were aged 55.2 years old on average, while women were 52.9 years old.
Same-sex couples entering civil partnerships tended to be slightly younger, with men on average 48.7 years old and women 42.5 years old.
The South East had the most marriages taking place in 2023, accounting for 16.1 per cent or 36,136 of all marriages in England and Wales that year.
London was the most popular area for civil partnerships, with about a quarter (1,847) of all those in 2023 taking place there.
The capital had a 16.1 per cent increase for same-sex civil partnerships and a 17.9 per cent increase for opposite-sex civil partnerships in 2023, compared with the year before.
Snow falls across parts of Scotland as wintry weather grips northern half of UK
Warning over ‘dangerous brain drain’ as number of Britons leaving UK revealed
Holocaust survivor remembered for ‘strength and courage’ after death aged 95
The popular Christmas treats shrinking in size – but going up in price
Scientists dig up two-tonne whale head found on Cornwall beach in 10-hour mission
Activists arrested as protests against Palestine Action ban are held across UK
