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Ministry of Health
Summary Summary of Marriage-Related Statistics
TABLE 47:
Highlights: 		Marriages by Marital Status of Bride and Groom, British Columbia, 1999
Highlights to Table 47
TABLE 48:
Highlights: 		Marriages by Age of Bride and Groom, British Columbia, 1999
Highlights to Table 48
TABLE 49:


TABLE 50:

Highlights:

Religious Representatives on Register and Marriages Performed by Religious Denomination
British Columbia, 1999
Marriage Commissioners on Register by Type and Marriages Performed,
British Columbia, 1999
Highlights to Table 49/Table 50
 

Summary

Marriage statistics presented in this section summarize all marriages which took place in British Columbia, and include non-residents who were married in the province. Included are tables containing information about marriages by previous marital status, age of bride and groom, and type of ceremony.

Summary statistics for marriages in 1999 are presented below:

  • There were 21,616 marriages in British Columbia. The 1999 crude marriage rate, 5.4 marriages per 1,000 population, was the lowest rate since 1950.

  • In 60.6% of all marriages in 1999, both the bride and groom were marrying for the first time (13,097). Both partners were divorced or widowed in 18.7% of marriages (4,032). In the remaining 20.8%, it was the first marriage for only one of the couple (4,487).

  • Approximately one quarter (25.7%) of all brides (5,547) and one quarter (26.0%) of all grooms (5,626) who were married in 1999 had previously been divorced.

  • The average age of brides and grooms, for first and later marriages combined, has been climbing steadily over the last two decades. In 1999, grooms were 34.7 years old on average, while brides were 31.8 years old.

  • Out of every 100 marriages in 1999:

    • 43 were performed by religious representatives
    • 57 were civil ceremonies