Next Wednesday, the country will be filled with hearts, balloons, and red and pink decorations in honor of Tu B'Av, the holiday of love. In honor of the holiday that all singles prefer to avoid, the Central Bureau of Statistics announces that despite a decrease in the marriage rate over the past decade, in the year 2021, 51,605 couples got married in Israel, an increase of 29% from the year 2020.
Many couples decide not to get married in Israel, and according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, in the year 2021, 1,321 Jewish couples got married abroad. Among them, over a third got married in Cyprus (35%), and slightly less than a third got married in the United States (31%). The other countries where Jewish couples got married abroad include France and the Czech Republic.
Regarding the age of marriage, in the year 2021, the average age for grooms who got married for the first time was 27.5, while for brides who got married for the first time, the average age was 25.5. Compared to the year 1970, the age of marriage in 2021 among Jewish grooms is higher by two and a half years (age 25 in 1970), and among Jewish brides, there is a four-year difference (age 21.5 in 1970).
As a result of the increase in the age of marriage, the percentage of single men aged 25-29 rose from 57% to 65% within 11 years. The percentage of single women in the same age group increased by 15% within 11 years, from 36% in 2000 to 51% in 2021.
Among the age group of 45-49, the percentage of single men increased by 8% within 11 years (from 6% to 14%), while among single women in this age group, the percentage increased by only 5% (from 6% to 11%).
Where are the most singles?
According to the data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the cities with the highest number of single individuals in the age group of 25-29 are Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Ramat Gan, and Kfar Saba, while Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh have the lowest percentage of singles in this age group.
Regarding the age group of 45-49, the highest percentage of singles is found in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Bat Yam, while the lowest percentage is found in Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, and Ashdod.
