Marriages down, divorces up in 2019

The number of marriages in 2019 decreased by 1.2% to 203,821 compared to 206,352 in 2018, the Marriage and Divorce Statistics, Malaysia report for 2020 revealed today.

The report, which presents the statistics on marriage and divorce for 2018 and 2019 by demographic characteristics at the national, state and administrative district levels, also revealed that the number of divorces increased by 12% to 56,975 last year from 50,862 in 2018.

Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in tandem with the decline in the number of marriages, the general marriage rate for grooms declined from 50.7 to 50.1 per thousand population of unmarried males aged 18 years and above.

A similar trend was also recorded for brides, where a decline from 47.0 to 46.2 per thousand population of unmarried females aged 16 years and over was observed.

In a statement, Uzir said the general divorce rate for males increased to 7.2 per thousand population from 6.5 of married males aged 18 years and over, with a similar trend reported for females, from 7.0 to 7.7 per thousand population of married females aged 16 years and above.

“The median age of grooms remained at 28. The median age for brides increased from 26 (2018) to 27 (2019),” he said.

Uzir said the increase in median age of brides was also linked to the average age of mothers at first births which rose 0.1 years from 27.8 in 2018 to 27.9 years in 2019.

“The current scenario shows that the tendency for late marriages is among those who are educated and working towards strengthening their economic stability, especially those living in urban areas,” he said, adding that this was in line with the increase in urbanisation rate in Malaysia from 70.9% in 2010 to 76.2% in 2019.

Uzir said statistics also showed that the oldest groom and bride were recorded at 93 and 86 years old last year.

“Approximately 0.3% of grooms aged 65 years and over have married younger brides at the age group of 24 years and below, while 0.2% of brides aged 65 years and over have married younger grooms at the age group of 24 and below,” he said.