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There were 20,348 marriages registered in Ireland in 2024, which included 668 same-sex marriages. The number of marriages fell by almost 4% from 21,159 marriages in 2023, and 7.7% since 2014.
The marriage rate per 1,000 of population stood at 3.8 in 2024 and was 4.8 in 2014.
The average age for brides and grooms stood at 35.9 years for brides and 37.7 years for grooms in 2024.
In 2024, the average age of males in same-sex marriages was 40.7 years, while the average age of females in same-sex marriages was 39.7 years.
Roman Catholic marriage ceremonies and civil ceremonies were the most popular choice for opposite-sex couples accounting for 6,425 and 6,392 of the 19,680 ceremonies in 2024. The ratio of Catholic and civil ceremonies has reduced in 10 years, with only 33 more Catholic ceremonies than civil ceremonies taking place in 2024 compared with 6,905 more in 2014.
Friday was the most popular day to get married.
August was the most popular month to wed for opposite-sex couples, while September was the most popular month for same-sex couples to marry in 2024.
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Statistician's Comment
The CSO has today (25 April 2025) published Marriages 2024, with data compiled from the marriage registration forms of all marriages registered in Ireland in 2024.
Commenting on the release, Seán O’Connor, Statistician in the Life Events and Demography Division, said: “There were 20,348 marriages in Ireland in 2024 including 668 same-sex marriages. This equates to a crude (unadjusted) marriage rate of 3.8 per 1,000 population. The equivalent rate in 2023 was 4.0 while the rate for 2014 was 4.8 per 1,000 population. Overall, the total number of marriages celebrated in 2024 decreased by 3.8% from 2023 and has reduced by 7.7% from 2014. Opposite-sex marriages fell by 4.2% from 20,513 marriages to 19,680, while same-sex marriages rose by 3.4%, up 22 additional marriages from 646 in 2023.
Age of Brides
The average age of women in opposite-sex marriages was 35.9 years in 2024, while the comparable age 10 years ago was 33.0 years. The average age of women in same-sex marriages was 39.7 years in 2024, with this previously being 39.3 years in 2019.
Age of Grooms
The average age of men in opposite-sex marriages was 37.7 years in 2024, compared with 35.0 years in 2014. The average age of men in same-sex marriages was 40.7 years, moving up from 39.8 years in 2019.
Ceremony Choice
The most popular form of ceremony for opposite-sex couples was a Catholic ceremony (6,425 or 32.6%), followed by a civil ceremony at 6,392 or 32.5% in 2024. Looking back 10 years the proportion of Roman Catholic ceremonies for opposite-sex weddings has fallen from 59.3% to 32.6%. In 2014, Limerick County (90.1%), Mayo (85.6%), and Clare were the local authorities with the largest share of Roman Catholic ceremonies. In 2024, Longford (67.2%), Leitrim (61.6%), and Mayo (61.0%) recorded the largest proportion of Roman Catholic ceremonies. More than half (52.5%) of same-sex marriages in 2024 were civil marriages.
August was the most popular month for opposite-sex marriages in 2024, while September was the most popular month for same-sex marriages. January was the least favoured month to tie the knot for both opposite-sex marriages and same-sex marriages.
Friday and Saturday continue to be the most popular days for wedding ceremonies for opposite-sex couples, while Friday, followed by Thursday, were the most favoured days to wed for same-sex couples. This has not changed since 2023. For all couples, Sundays and Tuesdays were the least popular days of the week to marry.”