Number of Marriages<\/h2>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
Northern Ireland celebrated 8,126 marriages in 2013. This is decrease in 4.2% compared to 2012. Some suggest that getting married in 2013 is unlucky \u2013 does this drop represent this notion? We can either look to the future, and wait for 2014\u2019s data to be released, or look to the past for an insight to what this means\u2026<\/p>\n
The 100 Year Marriage Trend in Northern Ireland<\/b><\/p>\n\nThe Wars<\/b><\/p>\n\n
This is an extremely turbulent era for Ireland as a whole \u2013 but very interesting from a statistical point of view. Still part of Great Britain, the whole of Ireland fought in WW1 (including what is now Northern Ireland). The data that we have in the graphic just takes data from the geographical area of Northern Ireland pre-independence in 1921.<\/p>\n
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There\u2019s a strong spike in the number of marriages just after the First World War. This is followed by a gradual decline in the number of marriages until a few years before WW2. Perhaps the conflict of the Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War are to blame here.<\/p>\n
The story of marriages and WW2 is similar to the rest of the UK. Two peaks pre and post war.<\/p>\n
The 70s<\/b><\/p>\n\n
1970 sees the largest number of marriages in Northern Ireland\u2019s history \u2013 12,297, beating even the pre\/post-war figures. This follows on from a general upward trend after the end of the second war. This stands out as unique from the marriage statistics we have seen from all the other countries in the UK, where in England and Wales we see a general decline followed by a consistent boost in the 60s-70s. In fact, this 60s-70s boost isn\u2019t even visible in our Scotland Infographic.<\/p>\n
In our England and Wales infographic, we speculated that this sustained peak in marriages was due to the Baby Boomers reaching the average marrying age. But does that tell all of the story for Northern Ireland?<\/p>\n
The Troubles<\/b><\/p>\n\n
We can\u2019t help but mention the well-known period of strife called The Troubles (Northern Ireland Conflict), which began in the late 60s and only ended in 1998 with the Belfast \u2018Good Friday\u2019 Agreement. Did The Troubles have influence on this peak of marriages in 1970s? Conflict brought about by the world wars certainly led to an increase in marriages, so the same could be true here.<\/p>\n
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The last 15 years<\/b><\/p>\n\n
After a gradual downward trend from the 80s onward, marriages were suddenly on the increase in 2001.<\/p>\n
Did the signing of the Belfast \u2018Good Friday\u2019 (1998) agreement spell a period of stability?<\/p>\n
Or is it The Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 \u2013 where civil ceremonies were allowed in approved premises, which had something to do with this increase?<\/p>\n
This upward trend is unique to Northern Ireland, with both Scotland and England and Wales\u2019 pattern of marriages continuing the downward trend from the 70s.<\/p>\n
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