2011 a Record Year for Marriages, but Low Overall Percentage Sparks Debate
Announcement posted by Peter Edwards Photography 01 Mar 2013
Peter Edwards, distinguished Perth wedding photographer, offers unique professional perspective on the issue.
Despite the ubiquitous meme that “marriage is dying in Australia,” a record number of Australians were married in 2011. While the percentage of married Australians is at its lowest since 1901, there are still plenty of people getting married.
The information, taken from the 2011 census, comes from an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report: 3310.0 - Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2011. The information is supplemented by further statistical research from educational website The Conversation.
The total number of marriages in 2011 was 121,752. This was 576 more than the 121,176 of 2010, for an increase of 0.5%. Marriages have steadily increased in Australia since 2001. While the number of marriages has risen, those marriages represent a smaller percentage of the total population over 15 years of age.
In 2011, 49% of Australians over the age of 15 reported being in a registered marriage. This was down from a percentage of 51 in the 2001 census. According to statistics, as many as 64% of Australians were married during the marriage boom in the middle of the 20th century, and the last time the percentage of Australians who were married was so low was 1901.
Another relevant statistic is the number of Australians who have ever been married. Between 35 and 39 years of age, over 70% have been married at least once. Between 55 and 59 years old, the number rises to over 90%. Between 75 and 85 years old, approximately 96% have been married at least once.
De facto marriages or cohabitation, are another factor. Close to 10% of Australians aged 15 years and over live together in de facto marriages. When this number is added to marriages, the rate of people living with a partner has consistently been close to 59% for the last ten years.
Peter Edwards, professional Perth wedding photographer who owns Peter Edwards Photography, has spent most of his working life photographing weddings. As someone who has been actively working in the wedding profession for over twenty years, Edwards is uniquely qualified to assess the current state of marriage and weddings.
According to Edwards, “Marriage is as popular as it ever was, and this generation wants to fall in love and have a family just as much as mine, or that of my parents. We often see people being married at a later age now, but still the marority of people tie the knot. I read these statistics, and while they are a great snapshot, they don’t tell the entire story.”
Edwards continued, “The statistics give both sides of the marriage debate reasons to believe that they are right. Total marriages say that Australians are being married in record numbers, while the percentages say that marriage isn’t as popular as it once was.”
Edwards shared his unique personal perspective: “First of all, I have to admit to being biased; I have made photographing weddings my life’s work because my partner Tegwyn and I love what a wedding represents. The commitment of two people who have a deep love and respect for each other and who hold common views and dreams for a future together. A couple who choose to marry have come to a point in their relationship where they want to declare this union to each other and to those nearest and dearest to them. A wedding is made of this - the love and commitment between the couple and the love and support of those who cherish them. It’s our job to capture this for the couple, their families and for the future generations of that family. It’s a privilege and delight to be involved.
Edwards concluded, “Statistics can tell you what happens, but they can’t tell you how it feels.”
Peter Edwards is a reputable Perth wedding photographer, and an accredited photographer of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography.
To know more about his high end Perth wedding photography services, visit his website: http://www.peteredwardsphoto.com.au/ about or dial 08 9316 2465.
The information, taken from the 2011 census, comes from an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report: 3310.0 - Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2011. The information is supplemented by further statistical research from educational website The Conversation.
The total number of marriages in 2011 was 121,752. This was 576 more than the 121,176 of 2010, for an increase of 0.5%. Marriages have steadily increased in Australia since 2001. While the number of marriages has risen, those marriages represent a smaller percentage of the total population over 15 years of age.
In 2011, 49% of Australians over the age of 15 reported being in a registered marriage. This was down from a percentage of 51 in the 2001 census. According to statistics, as many as 64% of Australians were married during the marriage boom in the middle of the 20th century, and the last time the percentage of Australians who were married was so low was 1901.
Another relevant statistic is the number of Australians who have ever been married. Between 35 and 39 years of age, over 70% have been married at least once. Between 55 and 59 years old, the number rises to over 90%. Between 75 and 85 years old, approximately 96% have been married at least once.
De facto marriages or cohabitation, are another factor. Close to 10% of Australians aged 15 years and over live together in de facto marriages. When this number is added to marriages, the rate of people living with a partner has consistently been close to 59% for the last ten years.
Peter Edwards, professional Perth wedding photographer who owns Peter Edwards Photography, has spent most of his working life photographing weddings. As someone who has been actively working in the wedding profession for over twenty years, Edwards is uniquely qualified to assess the current state of marriage and weddings.
According to Edwards, “Marriage is as popular as it ever was, and this generation wants to fall in love and have a family just as much as mine, or that of my parents. We often see people being married at a later age now, but still the marority of people tie the knot. I read these statistics, and while they are a great snapshot, they don’t tell the entire story.”
Edwards continued, “The statistics give both sides of the marriage debate reasons to believe that they are right. Total marriages say that Australians are being married in record numbers, while the percentages say that marriage isn’t as popular as it once was.”
Edwards shared his unique personal perspective: “First of all, I have to admit to being biased; I have made photographing weddings my life’s work because my partner Tegwyn and I love what a wedding represents. The commitment of two people who have a deep love and respect for each other and who hold common views and dreams for a future together. A couple who choose to marry have come to a point in their relationship where they want to declare this union to each other and to those nearest and dearest to them. A wedding is made of this - the love and commitment between the couple and the love and support of those who cherish them. It’s our job to capture this for the couple, their families and for the future generations of that family. It’s a privilege and delight to be involved.
Edwards concluded, “Statistics can tell you what happens, but they can’t tell you how it feels.”
Peter Edwards is a reputable Perth wedding photographer, and an accredited photographer of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography.
To know more about his high end Perth wedding photography services, visit his website: http://www.peteredwardsphoto.com.au/ about or dial 08 9316 2465.