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Many people find spouse abroad1
statistikk
2004-09-17T10:00:00.000Z
Population
en
ekteskap, Marriages and divorces, marriage ceremonies, marriages, type of marriage ceremony (for example civil, church wedding, abroad), length of marriage, separations, partnershipsChildren, families and households, Population
false

Marriages and divorces2003

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Many people find spouse abroad1

24 100 couples, where at least one part was resident in Norway, got married in 2003. In 18 900 of the marriages both bride and groom were residents in Norway. 1 750 women and 3 450 men married someone resident abroad, and these marriages counted for 22 per cent of all contracted marriages in 2003.

Marriages contracted 1970-2003

The number of persons who get married to someone resident outside Norway has steadily increased during the past years. The increase has been especially large during the second half of the 1990s. Until the end of the 1980s almost as many women as men found their spouse resident outside the boarder of Norway, but since then the number has increased more among men. The number of men who married a woman from abroad declined slightly compared with 2002, but the proportion was almost the same due to a decline in the total number of contracted marriages.

The official number of contracted marriages in Norway refers to the man resident here. According to the official definition 22 400 marriages were contracted in Norway in 2003 - 1 700 fewer than in 2002. The number of couples that married in 2002 is high compared to previous years. The number for 2003 was almost at the same level as the mid 1990s.

1 100 Norwegian men married an Asian woman

I 2003, 1 100 Norwegian men married a woman with background from Asia. 600 of these came from Thailand and 270 from the Philippines. 850 married a woman with background from Eastern Europe, whereas 400 had Russian background.

300 men with country background from each of the regions Western Europe, the Nordic countries and Asia married a Norwegian woman.

830 marriages were contracted between two persons with background from an Asian country, 290 between two eastern Europeans and 170 between two Africans. Among those with Asian background 120 marriages were contracted between two people with background from Vietnam or Pakistan, 80 between two from Iraq or Iran and 70 between two from Sri Lanka. Among Eastern Europeans there were many with background from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro who married someone with the same country background.

Other background than Norway refers to persons born abroad with two foreign-born parents or persons born in Norway by two foreign-born parents. Own, mothers or fathers country of birth is used.

Marriages contracted, by type of marriage. Per cent. 1986-2003

Half of the couples married in the State church

52 per cent of the marriages contracted in 2003, the man was resident in Norway, was held in the State church. 33 per cent had a civil wedding and 2 per cent in another religious community.14 per cent got married abroad. The proportion of people who marry abroad has been on the same level for the past five years. For marriages contracted abroad, no information is available about the type of wedding.

Decrease in marriage rate

The marriage rate was lower for all ages below the age of 35 compared to previous years for both men and women. With the exception of small variations, the marriage rate has decreased steadily during the past ten years for those below the age of 35, while it has been increasing for those older than 35 years of age. 1 2003, there was a decline in the marriage rate for most age groups above the age of 35 after many years with an increase. The marriage rate for those older than 35 declined to the level as for the end of the 1990s.

The age for first time married continued to increase

The age for first time married is still increasing. The average age for men who got married for the first time was 32.5 years in 2003 - an increase of 0.3 years from the year before. For women the average age was 29.7 years - and increase of 0.2 years. Since the mid 1970s the average age for first time married has increased by about 7 years for both women and men. This is due to the fact that many couples are cohabitants prior to marriage.

Most people got married in August

Summer is high season for weddings, and the highest number of marriages was recorded in August with 4 200. June came on second place with 3 600 couples. Fewest couples got married in January with 730.

Small increase in number of contracted partnerships

Last year 204 partnerships were contracted, 21 more than in 2002. 116 were between two men and 88 between two women. The increase was equal for men and women.

1  Changed 14 July 2005.

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