The average age at which Australians got married for the first time increased for both men and women between 1997 and 2021. As of 2021, males who married for the first time were on average 30.8 years old, while females were on average slightly younger at 29.4 years old.

first time marriage

Wedding bells chime

The most popular months to get married in 2017 were October and November, with many Australians opting to have their wedding in spring. In fact, over 20 percent of couples chose their wedding date based on a preference for a specific season.

In 2017, amendments to the Marriage Act meant that same-sex couples in Australia could also get legally married. This may change marriage figures in the years immediately following, with many long-term same-sex couples choosing to get married with this law change.

Happily ever after?

While the average age of first marriages has increased, the number of Australians tying the knot has decreased, with the crude marriage rate decreasing continuously across the country. The divorce rate has decreased over the years, largely related to the reduction in the number of marriages overall. In 2017, almost half of all divorces in Australia involved children; this share has not changed significantly over the past five years.

In 2022, the average female age at marriage was 27.5 years in Australia. The average at separation from their married partner was 39.8 years, and for divorce, the average age was 43.7 years.

In 2022, the average male age at marriage was 29.8 years in Australia. The average at separation from their married partner was 42.6 years, and for divorce, the average age was 46.7 years.

In 2021, the median length from marriage to separation in Australia was 8.4 years. In the same year, the median duration of marriage to divorce was 12.2 years.

In 2022, there were about 6.1 marriages per 1,000 residents in Australia. A decade before, the crude marriage rate was at the lower rate of 5.4 per 1,000 country residents.