Germany registered 349,200 marriages in 2024, the lowest number since nationwide records began in 1950, according to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). The figures, published ahead of World Marriage Day, highlight significant long-term changes in marriage patterns and household structures across the country.
The 2024 total confirms a historic low in new marriages. Of all people who married in 2024, nearly 79% were entering marriage for the first time, meaning they had neither been divorced nor widowed. Around 97% of marriages were between opposite-sex couples, while approximately 3% were same-sex marriages.
Despite the decline in weddings, marriage remains a common living arrangement in Germany. At the end of 2024, about 34.6 million adults aged 18 and older were married, accounting for roughly half of the adult population. However, the number and proportion of married people have been declining almost continuously for years: 30 years earlier, around 39.2 million adults were living in a marriage, representing 60% of all adults.
Marriage rates differ significantly by age group. The highest proportion of married individuals was recorded among adults aged 65 to 69. In this age bracket, around two-thirds were married by the end of 2024.
Alongside the decline in marriage numbers, the number of adults who have never married has risen considerably. By the end of 2024, approximately 23.1 million adults aged 18 and over were single, defined as individuals who had never been married, divorced or widowed. The share of single adults increased from 24% in 1994 to more than 33% in 2024, reflecting long-term demographic changes.
These figures illustrate how partnership patterns in Germany have evolved over the past decades, with more adults remaining unmarried and marrying later in life.
The average age at first marriage continued to rise in 2024. Women married for the first time at an average age of 32.9 years, while men were on average 35.3 years old. Compared with earlier decades, this represents a clear trend toward later marriages.
Divorce figures also reflect changing marital dynamics. In 2024, approximately 129,300 divorces were recorded, slightly more than in the previous year. Couples who divorced had been married for an average of 14.7 years, which is 2.7 years longer than the average duration of marriages ending in divorce in 1994.
Taken together, the data show a transformation in Germany’s marital landscape. While fewer people are marrying and a growing share of adults remain single, marriage continues to represent a central living arrangement for around half of the adult population. The figures underscore broader demographic shifts shaping partnership and family structures across the country.
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