The number of marriages celebrated in New Zealand increased in 2022 following lower numbers in the previous two years, according to annual figures released by Stats NZ.
In 2022, 18,858 marriages and civil unions were registered by New Zealand couples, up from 15,657 in 2021. However, the number remains lower than in the period before COVID-19 impacted New Zealand (there were, on average, around 20,200 marriages and civil unions registered each year between 2017 and 2019).
“Rules around gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a large drop in the number of marriages celebrated, especially in the warmer months when it’s more popular to tie the knot,” population estimates and projections manager Michael MacAskill said.
“In 2022, the number of marriages registered each month began returning to pre-COVID numbers as restrictions were lifted. In fact, registrations were higher than pre-COVID levels towards the end of the year, which may have included couples marrying that had delayed earlier plans.”
| Month | NZ couple pre-COVID | NZ couple during COVID pandemic | NZ couple 2022 | Overseas couple pre-COVID | Overseas couple during COVID pandemic | Overseas couple 2022 |
| January | 2431 | 1895 | 1746 | 466 | 212 | 15 |
| February | 2611 | 2409 | 2631 | 385 | 210 | 15 |
| March | 3070 | 2612 | 2376 | 412 | 165 | 12 |
| April | 1995 | 846 | 1752 | 283 | 14 | 54 |
| May | 1467 | 824 | 1143 | 195 | 35 | 75 |
| June | 877 | 845 | 738 | 107 | 35 | 60 |
| July | 866 | 825 | 624 | 125 | 26 | 66 |
| August | 862 | 600 | 924 | 139 | 11 | 135 |
| September | 902 | 716 | 1050 | 180 | 9 | 180 |
| October | 1460 | 1295 | 1389 | 220 | 9 | 156 |
| November | 1870 | 1577 | 2421 | 265 | 9 | 264 |
| December | 1824 | 1778 | 2058 | 275 | 14 | 282 |
Overseas couples marrying in New Zealand also increased
In 2022, there were 1,317 couples from overseas that came to New Zealand to marry or form a civil union. This was higher than the two years previous (in 2021 there were only 231), although still lower than pre-COVID numbers.
Nearly 2 in every 3 couples who came to New Zealand to marry were from Australia (64 percent). A further 9 percent came from the United Kingdom, and 7 percent from the United States. Of all overseas couples, 12 percent had at least one person in the couple born in New Zealand who was now living overseas.
Seven percent of overseas couples are same-sex couples
Of the 1,317 couples from overseas who married or formed a civil union in New Zealand in 2022, 7 percent (90) were same-sex couples, and 93 percent (1,227) were opposite-sex couples. In comparison, 2 percent (456) of marriages to couples living in New Zealand were same-sex couples, and 98 percent (18,402) were opposite-sex couples.
Of the same-sex overseas couples that married in New Zealand in 2022, the highest proportion came from Australia (42 percent), followed by Singapore (16 percent), and the United Kingdom and United States (8 percent for each).
Divorces
Figures on divorces also released by Stats NZ shows that in 2022, there were 7,593 divorces granted. This was higher than in 2021 (6,372), but lower than most years before that, following a general decline in the number of divorces each year.
“Couples need to have been separated for at least two years before they can apply for divorce, so the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on divorces will not be known yet,” MacAskill said.
Just over one-third of marriages end in divorce by a couple’s 25th wedding anniversary.
