Marriages in Australia plunged 20% to an almost record low in 2024. It's the lowest number of registered marriages since record keeping began in 1900. There's speculation people avoided marriage in 2024 because we are not back to ‘normal.’
“It’s not that people don’t want to get married, but that they can’t afford to get married!” One commenter said on Australia’s social media platform Gumtree. The post has had more than 46,000 engagements about the topic since Monday.
Australia’s ruling parties have long tried half-heartedly to increase birth and marriage rates. Now Australia faces an ageing population, immigration and nativist parties. It all threatens the country’s economic future. The government wants people to have more children. Government’s grants and policy have done nothing to address people's lives. Australia has high youth unemployment. The costs of living, education and childcare races upwards. This generation also pushes back against traditional gender roles.
After decades of economic squeezing, there are fewer people today who are of marriageable age. Those who are, aren’t interested in marriage or children. “For many young people, not getting married is an active choice. At the same time, having their own lifestyle and enjoying single life is also a big reason,” said another commenter on Gumtree. “Women can support themselves and do not need to rely on men. The willingness to get married is much lower than in the past.”