Fewer and fewer people get married in Norway. During the time under consideration, the highest number of marriages was registered in 2012, with nearly 97,000 contracted marriages. In 2022, 81,000 contracted marriages were registered. There was a drop in the number of marriages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The majority of marriages in Norway were dissolved after 5 to 9 years of marriage, reaching 2,233 divorces in 2020. By comparison, 422 marriages were cancelled after two years, while 1,160 married couples got divorced after 25 years of marriage or more.

Norway Women Who were First Married by Age 15: % of Women Aged 20-24 data was reported at 0.000 % in 2022. Norway Women Who were First Married by Age 15: % of Women Aged 20-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2022, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 % in 2022 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2022. Norway Women Who were First Married by Age 15: % of Women Aged 20-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Women who were first married by age 15 refers to the percentage of women ages 20-24 who were first married by age 15.;UNICEF Data; Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), AIDS Indicator Surveys(AIS), Reproductive Health Survey(RHS), and other household surveys.;;This is the Sustainable Development Goal indicator 5.3.1[https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].

The divorce rate generally declined in Norway over the past decade. In 2022, there were 8.6 divorces per thousand married and separated males, and 8.9 divorces per thousand married and separated females.

There were more same sex marriages among women than men in Norway over the past decade. In 2022, the highest number of same-sex marriages was recorded since it became legal in 2009, of which 261 were marriages contracted between two women.

Caterers have endured a period of high revenue volatility amid the recovery of COVID-19 disruptions and subsequent inflationary and geopolitical pressures, which have affected consumer and business spending on functions and events. Industry revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 8.5% to €25.5 billion over the five years through 2025, including a 4.9% hike in 2025. Evolving consumer tastes and trends, like healthier eating and vegetarianism, are driving change in the products offered by caterers. Marriage rates across Europe are dipping, leading to a diluted demand for wedding caterers. The low rates were compounded by restrictions during the COVID-19 outbreak, with many couples forced to postpone their weddings, while other private and corporate events were cancelled, leading to a low revenue base in 2020. Nevertheless, the gradual easing of restrictions in 2021 and complete removal in 2022 allowed postponed events to take place, providing a boost to revenue. As wider economic conditions affect business and consumer confidence and spending on catering, recent inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions and trade war fears have heightened uncertainty, weakening revenue growth over the three years through 2025. With greater health consciousness and concern for the environment, demand for caterers offering healthier, locally sourced and organic options is climbing. Catering services are also now required to be more inclusive of different dietary preferences, including vegetarianism and veganism, encouraging caterers to innovate and differentiate their offerings to keep up with competitors. Revenue is forecast to swell at a compound annual rate of 10.5% to €41.9 billion over the five years through 2030. While anticipated improvement in economic conditions will boost confidence and disposable income, leading to a better climate for the catering industry, subdued marriage rates will likely continue to limit demand for wedding catering. A more optimistic economic environment may encourage consumers and businesses to hold larger, more lavish events, driving revenue growth. Caterers will face challenges from intensifying competition and ever-changing consumer preferences, hindering profit growth. As such, diversification will play a key role, with caterers needing to innovate their offerings and come up with more personalised services, while also effectively dabbling in social media usage to engage with customers and enhance their brand image to stand out from the crowd. Caterers will also be likely to invest in making their operations more sustainable and achieve efficiencies through the use of technology.

In Finland, Norway, and Sweden, the number of marriages decreased from 2011 to 2021, whereas it fluctuated more in Denmark and Iceland. Moreover, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of marriages in all five countries dropped in 2020 and 2021, although the decrease was only minor in Norway. Sweden, which has the largest population in the region, also has the highest number of marriages, whereas Iceland, which has the lowest number of inhabitants, also has the lowest number of marriages.

In 2023, the most common type of family in Norway was one-person families. Nearly 1.3 million people lived in these kinds of families that year. The second most common type was couples without children, with around 652,000 registered. Couples with children between six and 17 years of age made up the third largest group of families in Norway in 2023.

Since the the law legalizing same-sex marriages in Denmark was implemented in June 2012, there have been constantly more same-sex marriages between women than among men. In 2022, 296 women married another woman, and 213 men married another man. The total number of registered marriages in Denmark decreased over the past 20 years.

Divorces

Simultaneously, the number of divorces in Denmark was approximately one half of the number of marriages in 2022. During that year, around 12.000 divorces were registered and out of them, 96 female couples and 42 male couples were divorced.

Marriages in Norway

In Norway, the number of contracted marriages decreased from 2011 to 2021. Around 63,600 marriages were registered in 2021. Among the homosexual couples, the situation was similar as to Denmark; most same-sex marriages were between women. 202 female couples and 94 male couples were married in Norway that year. Norway's Marriage Act made same-sex marriages legal in 2009.