Coronavirus slashes Tasmanian, Australian marriage numbers

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the number of new marriages in Tasmania crashed from 2385 in 2019 to 2013 in 2020, a 15.6 per cent decline.

Total marriages decreased by 30.6 per cent nationally, with lockdown central Victoria down by 41.9 per cent.

The national decrease was the biggest the ABS had ever reported and the number of registrations (78,989) was the lowest since 1961.

"Marriage numbers fell in late March as lockdowns, restrictions on gatherings and travel bans impacted marriage plans, with numbers then remaining low throughout winter and spring," ABS director of health and vital statistics James Eynstone-Hinkins said

"All states and territories recorded a decrease in marriage numbers in 2020."

Penguin-based marriage celebrant Dudley Corbett noticed a drop-off, especially in the peak period from November to March.

"I think there was a downturn, but there was still plenty happening," Mr Corbett said.

He said there was a strong trend towards marriages in open and private gardens and so on, with February 14 especially in demand.

"People queue up to get married on St Valentine's Day," Mr Corbett said.

Ninety-six of the 2013 Tasmanian marriages involved same-sex couples.

At 4.8 per cent, that was significantly higher than the national proportion of 3.7 per cent and every other state and territory except the ACT (5.5 per cent).

October 10 was the most common day for a wedding nationally.

"A further 1517 couples took the opportunity to get married on the leap year day of Saturday, February 29, the fifth most common day to marry in 2020 and one which is sure to save those couples on future anniversary gifts," Mr Eynstone-Hinkins noted.

It is not known yet what the forced proximity of lockdowns did to the divorce rate.

The ABS said divorces were only reported once finalised after a period of separation of at least a year.