In North Rhine-Westphalia, last year 76,900 couples said “I do.” That figure amounts to 347 or 0.4 percent fewer than in 2024, according to the State Statistical Office in Düsseldorf.
Just over 74,800 marriages were between opposite-sex couples, with nearly 2,100 involving same-sex couples. Among these, almost 1,200 involved female couples and a little over 900 involved male couples. In 150 cases, registered civil partnerships were converted into marriages, according to the statisticians.
Since 2022 the number of marriages has declined every year. Back then the State Office counted around 85,000 weddings, including 2,300 marriages of same-sex couples.
In heterosexual marriages, the men were on average 34.1 years old last year. Women averaged 32.0 years, two years younger. In same-sex marriages, the average age for male partners was 44.5 years, and for female partners 39.6 years.
As in previous years, the most popular wedding months, according to the agency, fell in the warmer part of the year. In 2025, couples tied the knot most often in May, with just over 10,000 marriages, followed by August with about 9,700 and September with roughly 8,700.
Marcy Ellerton
