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Official Statistics Portal of Latvia
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Under the impact of pandemic the number of marriages has dropped last year

Data of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in 2020 the number of marriages registered in Latvia comprised 10 702, which is 2 159 marriages or 17 % less than in 2019. Reduction in the number of marriages was affected by state of emergency during Covid-19 pandemic, as well as gathering restrictions and other restrictions. The number of marriages per 1 000 population fell by 1.1 – from 6.7 in 2019 to 5.6 in 2020.

During the state of emergency declared in the country from 12 March to 9 June 2020 only both spouses and two adult witnesses were allowed to attend the marriage ceremony. The number of marriages during those three months fell rapidly and was 36 % less than in the respective period of 2019. The largest drop in the number of marriages, compared to 2019, was in May and June, when each month about 500 marriages less than last year were registered.

For the second time state of emergency with significant restrictions was declared on 9 November 2020 and was in force until 6 April this year. According to provisional data of marriages registered, as restrictions were reduced, in April and May 2021 more marriages were registered than in the respective months last year.

Number of marriages registered in Latvia by months

In 2020, compared to 2019, the number of first marriages fell by 15 %, but of remarriages – by 21 %. The number of marriages of Latvian citizens (including non-citizens) with citizens of other countries has dropped – if in 2019 share of such marriages was 4.8 %, in 2020 it was 3.5 %.

Trends in marriages among different age groups is changing

The number of first marriages reduced in all age groups, but in age groups 20 to 24 years (per 1 000 population of the respective age – by 14 %), 25 to 29 years (by 11 %) and 30 to 34 years (by 15 %).

Last year 7.2 % or 1 542 seniors aged over 60 years got married, which is 30 % less than in 2019 when marriages were registered by 8.6 % or 2 217 seniors. In previous years (in 2018, 2019) a rapid increase was observed in the number of marriages of seniors, which was affected by amendments in law “On state pensions”1.

Married status more often in males

At the beginning of 2021, 49 % of adult males and 41 % of adult females were married, 35 % of males and 25 % of females – were single. 12 % of males and 18 % of females are divorced. 16 % of females are widowed, which is four times more than male widows (3.4 %), and that is related to a larger number of females in senior group and a longer life expectancy.

A higher share of single males is partially related to the trend when males are registering marriage at a greater age than females: mean age of males at first marriage is 32 years, but of females – 29.7 years. The mean age of persons registering their marriage is increasing with every year.

The number of marriages in Estonia was affected the least

Last year, compared to 2019, the reduction in the number of marriages in Estonia2 comprised only 4.6 %. At the second half of the year, compared to the previous year, the number of marriages in Estonia has increased. The largest drop in the number of marriages was registered in Lithuania3 – in the breakdown by year marriages were registered less by 22 % than in 2019, moreover, the largest difference was observed in May, when, compared to 2019, the number of marriages has fallen even by 67 %.

Short before gathering restrictions were imposed, in February 2020 a great part of residents of the Baltic countries used a chance to register marriage on 20.02.2020., which caused increase in the number of marriages in February.

1https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/38048
Amendments made on 26 April 2018. Starting with 2019, spouse of the deceased person is eligible to receive 50 % of deceased spouse’s pension for a year after the death.
2Statistics Estonia homepage
3Statistics Lithuania homepage

 

Media requests:
Information and Communication Section
E-mail:
media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366989, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Ruta Beināre
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail:
: Ruta.Beinare@csp.gov.lv
Phone: 67366775

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