Category Archives: Marriage and Divorce

Marriage Registrations in South Africa Declining

The administrative data on civil marriages indicates a notable downward trend in marriage registrations. As outlined in the Marriages and Divorces report for 2022, published by Statistics South Africa, there has been a significant decline of 29,5% in the number of civil marriages recorded between 2013 and 2022. Even when considering the impact of COVID-19   read more »


Marriages on the decline in South Africa

Marriages on the decline in South Africa

Marriage has usually been considered a legally and socially approved union that is regulated by laws, rules, customs and beliefs. However, global and local trends have seen marriages decreasing each year. Marriages are becoming less common, people are marrying later and unmarried couples are increasingly choosing to live together instead of tying the knot. Information   read more »


Is marriage an old-fashioned institution?

Is marriage an old-fashioned institution?

Marriages are becoming less common in South Africa. Could this mean that marriage is becoming a fading tradition? According to the Marriages and Divorce, 2020 report released by Statistics South Africa, the total number of people getting married has fallen steadily from 2011 to 2020. Besides the high decline in 2020 that may have resulted   read more »


Realizing women’s rights for an equal future on Women’s Day

Realizing women’s rights for an equal future on Women’s Day

There is no doubt that South Africa has made significant progress towards achieving gender equality since 1956, when 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. Activists rebelled against a patriarchal system designed to control women and reduce them to submissive beings   read more »


Families and parents are key to well-being of children

Families and parents are key to well-being of children

Did you know that in South Africa, about one-fifth (21,3%) of children aged 17 years and less, did not live with their parents? It may also surprise you to hear that this is against the international norm where the majority of children under 18 live with both their parents.1 However, in South Africa, children are   read more »


All the single ladies, put your hands up!

All the single ladies, put your hands up!

Single ladies, if you’re wondering why your man hasn’t proposed yet, perhaps he’s waiting to turn 37? According to a report released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), Marriages and Divorces, 2019, the median age of bridegrooms increased from 36 years in 2015 to 37 years in 2019. Similarly, the age of brides increased from   read more »


Four out of ten marriages end in divorce before their 10th anniversary

Four out of ten marriages end in divorce before their 10th anniversary

The recent royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle cast the spotlight on fairy-tale weddings. Images of a young couple who are madly in love and vow to spend the rest of their lives together, filled with expectations of a perfect marriage, are what fairy-tale weddings are made of. The truth is that not   read more »


Marriages and divorces 2016 report

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                         30 May 2018 Marriages and divorces 2016 report The Marriages and Divorces report released by Statistics South Africa   read more »


28th International Population Conference (IPC) 2017 to be hosted in Cape Town, South Africa

28th International Population Conference (IPC) 2017 to be hosted in Cape Town, South Africa

“Population is not simply a problem of numbers. The growth in Africa’s population in the last decade has not been accompanied by the necessary structural transformation nor has it translated into equitable human development and improved livelihoods,” Dr. Pali Lehohla, Statistician-General and President of the International Organising Committee.   For the first time in the   read more »