2021: Significant decrease in same-sex marriage compared to previous years
Every year in Germany, a new count is made of how many couples have said "yes" to each other. The year 2021 is particularly interesting in this context. Marriages between same-sex couples fell by 0.3 percent compared with the previous year. But heterosexual couples also married significantly less frequently in 2021.
But what caused the decline and does the pandemic have anything to do with it?
A look at the statistics of the Federal Office
Anyone who takes a look at the statistics of the Federal Office in Wiesbaden quickly realizes that the year 2021 represented a certain "caesura" in terms of marriage. Rarely did so few couples say yes to each other. Strictly speaking, around 349,000 heterosexual and 8,700 homosexual couples married in the year in question. In percentage terms, same-sex marriages thus account for about 2.4% of all marriages. The (unfortunately still) current pandemic will certainly have contributed a part to the new low. But: More marriages were performed in the first pandemic year (2020) than in 2021.
The statistics also show that the same-sex marriages were not exclusively new marriages. Among the approximately 8,700 same-sex marriages, 900 couples had their registered partnership changed. They took advantage of the new opportunities and entered into a legally valid marriage.
Lowest value since the First World War
The number of marriages performed was definitely at a low point in 2021. Only the numbers at the time of the First World War were lower. Even in the times of the Second World War, significantly more marriages were performed. Marriages are particularly declining in the new federal states. Perhaps this is also because many younger people have decided to move away from the new federal states in recent years?
It is probably not really possible to speak of standards in this context. The exact reasons for the massive decline and the low number of marriages in 2021 will vary in nature. Some couples may also have decided deliberately not to marry during the pandemic, preferring to wait until celebrations can be particularly large and boisterous again. Perhaps a marriage boom will follow after the pandemic? At least, that's an obvious assumption.
The Pandemic and the Baby Boom...
Many couples used the time during the pandemic to start a family or expand an existing one. Among other things, a total of around 795,000 births were recorded during the baby boom in 2021. Statistically, the third child in particular was born in many families at this time.
A great sign that proves that many couples - despite the rather complicated circumstances - seem to have no (or little) fear of the future.
How will the numbers surrounding marriages and the like develop in the future?
Most of the regulations relating to the pandemic have now been lifted. This could well lead to more couples wanting to marry again in the future.
After all, it is now less complicated to host exactly the celebration that most closely matches individual tastes. How the numbers will develop in the next few years will ultimately be seen in the next counts.
Of course, in this context it should also be taken into account that many still prefer the concept of a "wild marriage". This means: They live as if in a marriage, but are not married... And do not plan to take this step. What was once considered "unthinkable" is now definitely more than just a trend.