People marrying less and older

Fewer people are marrying and those that do tie the knot at an older age, a Statistics New Zealand survey released today shows.

The survey showed the rate of marriages had dropped more than two-thirds from 4.2 per cent of the population in 1971 to 1.3 per cent last year.

The decline was attributed to an increase of de facto unions, a general trend towards delayed marriage, and an increased numbers of New Zealanders choosing to remain single.

De facto relationships are proving to be popular among young New Zealanders with figures from 2001 showing men and women under 25-years-old who are living together outnumbering those legally married.

Couples are also waiting longer to walk down the aisle, as half of all women who married for the first time last year were aged on average 28.1 years -- about eight years older than newly-weds in 1971.

Men's figures rose by nearly the same rate with first-time grooms in 1971 aged on average 23 years, and last year figures showing the average age increasing to 29.9 years.

The divorce rate has steadily increased over the past three decades, from 3347 legally separating in 1971, climbing to 10,609 last year.

A quarter of divorcees last year had been married for five to nine years.

The survey also said that one-third of couples married in 1979 did not last until their silver wedding (25 years), last year.

- NZPA