Greater longevity of marriages has been heralded as a sign of more successful relationships, but the reality is far more nuanced.
Overall, the rate of marriage has more than halved since 1971, dropping from 13 marriages per 1,000 people aged 16 years and over to 5.5 in 2024.
While most children are born to married parents, the proportion has changed substantially over the years. In 1971, 91% of births were to married parents, declining to 60% in 2023.
The choice to not be in a relationship is increasing. Whereas in the face of socioeconomic challenges, choices around building a family are more limited.
Many Australians now won’t achieve their desired family size because the barriers to having a much-wanted child, or subsequent child, are insurmountable. Financial and social costs of raising a child while juggling housing affordability, economic insecurity, gender inequality and climate change are just too high.
The proportion of women without children over their lifetime nearly doubled from 8.5% in 1981 to 16.4% in 2021. On average, Australians are having fewer children than ever, with the total fertility rate at a record low of 1.5 births per woman.
Rising housing costs and widening economic insecurity mean separation may not even be an option, especially where children are involved. Research shows soaring house prices can keep people in marriages they might otherwise leave.
Cost-of-living pressures are increasingly denying couples much-wanted families and making it more difficult for families to thrive, divorced or not.
Source: Australia’s divorce rate is the lowest it’s been in 50 years. Why?