The market of marriage - Germany

1.1 Scope of the study

A steady decline in marriages has been witnessed since the 1970s. For example, the number of marriages has decreased at an annual average rate of 2.75% in all German Länders. At the same time, the number of divorces has been declining since 2012, by 0.7% in 2020 compared to 2019, and by 3.5% in the previous year. On average, a marriage lasts only 14.5 years.

The market for marriages includes all wedding customs and goods related to marriage. This includes wedding and engagement rings, ceremony expenses, wedding dresses, and honeymoon, even though each of these categories constitutes a market in itself. 

Marriages are influenced by a variety of factors, including cultural traditions, social norms, religious beliefs, economic conditions, and legal frameworks. Since the legalization of same-sex marriages in 2017, same-sex couples have been allowed to get married in Germany. In 2021, same-sex marriages accounted for 2.43% of total existing marriages, although the number has decreased since the introduction of "Ehe für Alle".

Although the concept of marriage is similar in almost all nations around the globe, there are large differences in perceptions toward marriage among different countries. These global differences can have significant implications, such as how acceptable it is to get married more than once or the average age of the brides and the grooms. It can be observed that in most countries around the world, fewer marriages are being performed due to both social and economic circumstances. However, there is an upward trend in countries with economic growth, including China, Russia (before the conflict), and Bangladesh.