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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, 2002
Highlights to Table 47
TABLE 48:
Highlights: 		Marriages by Age of Bride and Groom, British Columbia, 2002
Highlights to Table 48
TABLE 49:

TABLE 50:

Highlights: 		Religious Representatives on Register and Marriages Performed
by Religious Denomination, British Columbia, 2002
Marriage Commissioners on Register by Type and Marriages Performed,
British Columbia, 2002
Highlights to Table 49/Table 50
 

Summary

Statistics arising from marriages are presented in this section. Unlike the birth and death statistics, which are based on usual residence, the marriage information is based on all marriages that occurred in British Columbia and includes non-residents. The tables in this section contain information about marriages by previous marital status, age of bride and groom, and type of ceremony.

Summary statistics for marriages in 2002 are presented below:

  • A total of 21,245 marriages were solemnized in the province in 2002.

  • In 2002, 60.7% of couples were marrying for the first time. In 20.0% of the marriages, it was the first marriage for only one of the parties, and 19.2% involved couples where both partners were previously divorced or widowed.

  • There were 432 marriages where either the bride or groom was under 20 years of age. These teen marriages accounted for one out of 50 marriages (2.0% of all marriages) in 2002. There were only 62 marriages where both the bride and groom were teenagers.
  • There were 1,039 marriages where either the bride or groom was 60 years of age or older. These marriages to people aged 60 or older accounted about one in 20 marriages (4.9% of all marriages) in 2002. There were 470 marriages where both the bride and groom were aged 60 or older.

  • In 2002 approximately two fifths of the marriages were performed by religious representatives and three fifths were civil ceremonies.