10. United Kingdom – 36%
In 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on marriages in England and Wales. Wedding venues and registration offices temporarily closed, and restrictions on the number of guests at ceremonies also played a role in affecting marriages. The total number of marriages is marking a staggering decrease of 61.0% compared to 2019, when there were 219,850 marriages. This sharp decline resulted in the lowest number of marriages on record since 1838. The pandemic’s disruptions and uncertainties led many couples to postpone or cancel their wedding plans, contributing to this historic drop in marriage rates.
9. Finland – 36%
Finland surely deserves to be on the list of the most unfaithful countries in the world, but their statistics show that their marriages are not in crisis. Statistics Finland reported that in 2022, a total of 21,942 marriages were recorded, showing an increase of 2,363 marriages compared to the previous year. Among these, 21,519 marriages were between opposite-sex partners, indicating a rise of 2,315 marriages from the year before. Despite the growth in the number of marriages entered from the previous year, the figure remained the second lowest in over 100 years. The data highlights the impact of various factors, including societal changes and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, on marriage rates in Finland.
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8. Spain – 39%
Based on the 2011 census, more than half of the adult population in Spain, accounting for 56.5%, is married. The second-largest category is comprised of single individuals, representing 29.8%, followed by widowed individuals at 7.9% and divorced individuals at 5.8%. Over the past three decades, the incidence of marriage in the Spanish population has witnessed a decline. The reduction in marriage rates has been more pronounced since 2006. These findings illustrate the changing trends in marital status among the Spanish population over the years.
7. Belgium – 40%
In 2022, Belgium witnessed 48,482 registered marriages, marking an increase of nearly 9% compared to the average number of marriages recorded during the period 2017-2019. The years 2020 and 2021 experienced a significant decline in the number of marriages, respectively, compared to the average of the preceding three years. However, in 2022, there was a notable resurgence in marriage ceremonies. This surge in marriages during 2022 can be seen as a rebound or a ‘make-up’ year for couples who had to postpone their wedding plans due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the previous years.
