Marriages and divorces, 2001

As for all the years since the act went into force on 1 August 1993, again in 2001 Oslo was the most common place of residence. In 46 per cent of the same-sex partnerships contracted this year the elder partner was registered as a resident in the capital.

In 2001 a little less than six out of ten partnerships were contracted between two males and four out of ten between two females. Two persons aged 30-39 years entered into approximately one out of four registered partnerships.

Decrease in the number of marriages in 2001

The number of marriages contracted was markedly reduced from 2000 to 2001. In 2001 23 000 couples got married, that is, a decrease of 2 400 compared to the previous year.

12 200 marriages were church weddings, 7 000 couples were married in civil ceremonies, and 400 chose to enter into marriage in other religious communities than the Church of Norway. While the number varies, there is a decrease for all types of weddings taking place in Norway.

More and more marriages are contracted abroad. In 2001 the number had reached 3 400, a number that amounts to one out of seven marriages contracted that year. Since the mid-1980s the number has more than tripled. Figures for marriages and blessings of civil marriages at the seamen's churches in 2001 show that approximately 740 marriages/blessings took place there, a decrease after several years of rising numbers.

Older brides and bridegrooms

The average age for those who marry for the first time is still increasing slowly but surely. While the women who got married for the first time in 2001 on average were 29.3 years old, the first-time grooms were 32.0 years. For those who remarried the average age was 42.8 years for women and 46.4 years for men.

Tables:

• Table 1 Marriages contracted, by residence status of bride and bridegroom. 1950-2001
• Table 2 Marriages contracted, by type of marriage. 1961-2001
• Table 3 Marriages, by previous marital status of the spouses. 1961-2001
• Table 4 Marriages. County. 1966-2001
• Table 5 Average age at marriage. Males and females. 1961-2001
• Table 6 Marriage rates for first time married males and females in selected age groups. 1961-2001
• Table 7 Marriage rates for divorced males and females in different age groups. 1950-2001
• Table 8 Marriage rates for widowers and widows in different age groups. 1950-2001
• Table 9 Marriages, by age of bride and bridegroom. 2001
• Table 10 Marriages, by marriage number of bridegroom/bride. 1966-2001
• Table 11 Marriages contracted, by month. 1976-2001
• Table 12 Marriages contracted 2001. Citizenship of female and male
• Table 13 Marriages contracted, by citizenship of male and female. 2001
• Table 14 Partnerships contracted. County. 1994-2001
• Table 15 Partnerships contracted, by age of the youngest and oldest partner. 2001