Less weddings in Portugal in 2024

Portugal registered a descent of the number of marriages in 2024, which totaled 36,633. According to Ine data revealed on Tuesday, there was a break in unions between people of opposite sex and an increase in celebrations between same-sex couples.

“Of the total marriages celebrated, 35,589 were held among people of opposite sex (35,971 in 2023) and 1,044 among same-sex people (1,009 in 2023), of which 526 men’s marriages between women (548 and 461 in 2023)” needs information from the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The data published in the “vital statistics” show that the regions of Greater Lisbon and Madeira were the ones that recorded the highest proportion of same -sex marriages (4.7% and 4.3%, respectively).

According to INE, the average age of the first marriage was 35.8 years for men and 34.3 years for women. The Middle Ages to the first marriage and marriage was higher in men than in women.

The North, Centro and Azores regions recorded average ages lower than the National Middle Ages to the first marriage.

« These three regions, along with Autonomous Region of Madeira, registered average ages of marriage less than the National Middle Ages. The Autonomous Region of the Azores was the one where both men and women married earlier, » says INE.

Of the total marriages celebrated among people of opposite sex, in 2024, 19.9% ​​(7,094) were celebrated by the Catholic rite, 79.7% (28,361) were performed only in civil form and 0.4% (134) according to other religious forms.

Between 2015 and 2024, the proportion of Catholic marriages decreased and that of civil weddings increased by about 16%.