Marriage rates fall to 5.3 as ABS data highlights shifting social norms

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported a decline in the crude marriage rate, which fell from 5.5 per 1,000 residents aged 16 and over in 2024 to 5.3 in 2025. The data indicates that the largest reductions in marriage registrations occurred among individuals aged 25 to 29 and those aged 30 to 34.

Concurrently, the number of divorces granted rose by 4.1 per cent, with the crude divorce rate increasing from 2.1 to 2.2. These figures emerge against a backdrop of historical shifts in Australian family law, particularly following the introduction of no-fault divorce legislation in 1975.

Prior to 1975, couples seeking to end marriages often faced stringent legal criteria, with some resorting to staged evidence to meet court thresholds. The liberalisation of divorce law in the mid-1970s led to a backlog of separations, causing divorce rates to peak at more than double current levels. Following this legislative change, the median age for first marriage began to rise, moving from 23 to 24 for men and 21 to 22 in the mid-1970s to current medians of 31 and 30.

Guardian Australia columnist Van Badham characterises the current data as evidence of a "sensible generation." Badham argues that the delay in marriage reflects greater self-awareness and freedom from social pressure, rather than financial constraints alone. This perspective is supported by Nick Tebbey of Relationships Australia, who noted that individuals are increasingly aware of their expectations before committing to marriage.

While a Deloitte global survey suggested that Gen Z and millennials are delaying life decisions due to financial concerns, Badham contends that the trends also align with lower teen birthrates and reduced alcohol use among younger cohorts. The data suggests a shift away from the median marriage ages of the 1970s, where unions were often entered into at ages that many now consider too young for such significant commitments.