StatsSA has released its marriages and divorces statistics for 2017, revealing some interesting trends in how we’re conducting our life partnerships.

They base their data on a combination of population censuses, administrative data, and household sample surveys.

The latest stats are from 2017, and they show that a total of 135 458 civil marriages, 2 588 customary marriages, and 1 357 civil unions were registered, reports BusinessTech.

Compared to 2016, fewer people are registering civil marriages and customary marriages, with more opting for civil unions.

The data also revealed that marriages tend to happen in the warmer months – September to December.

I could have told you that from looking at my Facebook feed during that time:

In 2017, the highest number of marriages (12.9%) took place in December and the lowest number of marriages, (6.6%) occurred in June.

Marriage solemnisation can only be conducted by marriage officers who are appointed in terms of the Marriage Act.

Civil marriages are generally solemnised by civil marriage officers at the offices of the DHA and by religious marriage officers at chapels or religious buildings.

While a large proportion of South Africans opted for a religious marriage (28.8%), more than twice as many South Africans solemnised their marriage at the Department of Home Affairs (58.1%).

Also recorded was the number of underage marriages that took place in 2017. Two bridegrooms and 70 brides aged less than 18 years were registered, with 62 of these brides marrying for the first time.

That means eight of them have been married before…

Other interesting findings include:

The highest number of never-married men (25.7%) were aged 30–34 years whereas the highest number of spinsters  (29.2%) were aged 25–29 years;

Hold up – men and spinsters? What is this? A Jane Austen novel?

Back to the stats:

• There were more never married women compared to never-married men at younger ages (less than 35 years) and vice versa at older ages (35 years and older);
• The median age of bridegrooms has remained constant at 36 years since 2015 whereas the median age of brides has remained constant at 32 years of age over the same time period;

• For first time marriages, the median ages for never-married men and women were 34 years and 31 years respectively in 2017 – showing an age difference of three years;
• For remarriages, the median age for widowers and widows in 2017 were 55 years and 31 years respectively – resulting in a 24-year age gap;
• The median age for widowers consistently increased from 50 years in 2013 to 55 years in 2017

Which brings us to divorce.

In 2017, there were 25 390 completed divorce forms processed. This means that divorce has increased 0,3% from the 25 326 processed in 2016.

More women (51%) than men (35%) initiated divorce, with the median ages at divorce in 2017 at 44 years for men and 40 years for women.

It’s also been noted that a number of marriages don’t make it to the 10-year mark.

Just a gentle reminder that you can stay with someone for the rest of your life without marrying them.

[source:businesstech]