Austria saw a decline in both marriages and divorces in 2024 compared to the previous year, with a total of 44,924 marriages and 1,857 registered partnerships, according to preliminary figures from Statistik Austria.

The figures show a drop of 931 marriages, or 2%, compared to 2023. The number of same-sex marriages, which became legal in Austria in January 2019, also saw a slight dip, with 779 unions last year – a decrease of 0.8%.

In the same period, 14,344 marriages were legally dissolved, and 159 registered partnerships were ended. This represents a decrease of 2.6% in divorces, with 377 fewer than the previous year.

Regional Variations in Marriage Trends

The decline in marriages was not uniform across Austria. In eight of the country’s nine federal provinces, the number of weddings dropped. Burgenland saw the sharpest decline, with a 14.8% decrease, followed by Tyrol (down 4.9%) and Salzburg (down 3.8%). Only Styria experienced an increase in marriages, with a rise of 2.3%.

Registered Partnerships: Mixed Results

When it comes to registered partnerships, the figures showed mixed results. While there was a 5.8% decrease in different-sex partnerships, same-sex partnerships saw a 7.1% increase.

Overall, 1,737 different-sex couples and 120 same-sex couples entered into registered partnerships in 2024. The number of such partnerships fell in five federal provinces, with the largest declines seen in Lower Austria (down 15.5%) and Upper Austria (down 11.3%). Burgenland and Styria recorded significant increases of 16% and 15.1%, respectively.

Fewer Divorces Across Most Provinces

As for divorces, the trend was similarly downward. The number of separations dropped by 2.6% last year, with 14,344 divorces recorded. The decline was particularly noticeable in Carinthia (down 7%), Tyrol (down 6.7%) and Upper Austria (down 4.4%). The only province to see an increase in divorces was Lower Austria, where the number rose by 4.4%.