Québec, June 22, 2020. – In 2019, an estimated 22,250 marriages were celebrated in Québec, approximately 600 less than in the previous two years. The decline was observed in both opposite-sex and same-sex marriages. These results were published in the Bulletin sociodémographique of the Institut de la statistique du Québec, which is released alongside provisional data on marriages and nuptiality in Québec in 2019.
Number of marriages, Québec, 1971–2019
Source: Institut de la statistique du Québec.
People are getting married less and later than in the past
The propensity to get married in Québec, which has been very low for several years, is still slightly declining. If nuptial conditions in 2019 remain constant, it is estimated that only 26% of men and 30% of women will get married at least once before their 50th birthday. The average age at first marriage in 2019 was 33.5 years for men and 32.1 years for women. This represents an increase of 8.0 and 8.5 years respectively since the early 1970s.
Share of civil marriages rose from 2% in 1969 to 64% in 2019
The year 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the Civil Marriage Act in Québec, which allows two people to marry before a secular officiant outside a place of worship. The proportion of civil marriages was 2% in 1969, the year the Act was introduced. It rose until the 1990s, when it stabilized at around 30%. The addition of new civil officiants in 2002 led to a further period of increase. In addition to clerks or deputy clerks, notaries and “designated persons” (which include mayors, friends and family members, among others) could now perform marriages. In 2019, the share of civil marriages reached 64%.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marriages in 2020
While it remains possible to marry under certain conditions in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, several couples have had to postpone or cancel their plans. Preliminary monthly data for 2020 suggest that there is an estimated 25% decrease in marriages in March and 50% in April, compared to the 2010–2019 average. While a decrease in the number of marriages in 2020 can already be anticipated, it remains to be seen what effects the pandemic will have on peak marriage season, which usually runs from June to September, and on the months that follow.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.