UK marriage rate lowest ever

The marriage rate in the UK is at the lowest it has ever been, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

According to the data, 244,710 marriages took place in England and Wales in 2005, which is ten per cent less than in 2004, when there were 313,550 weddings.

Moreover, in the same period there was a two per cent decrease in the number of marriages in Northern Ireland to 8,140, and a four per cent drop in the number of marriages in Scotland to 30,881.

The ONS has suggested that this figure could be partly attributed to the Home Office's bid to put a stop to false marriages by immigrants.

It said in its report: A change in law from February 1st 2005 designed to discourage 'sham marriages' may have been one of many factors that contributed to the drop in the number of marriages in 2005. The long-term picture is one of decline from the peak of 480,285 marriages in 1972."

The reports also noted that since 1992 there have been more civil ceremonies taking place in England and Wales than religious ceremonies.