Covid crisis puts brake on marriage rate in Latvia

Take note – story published 2 years ago

Data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) released July 2 show that in 2020 the number of marriages registered in Latvia comprised 10,702, which is 2,159 marriages or 17 % fewer than in 2019. 

The reduction in the number of marriages was affected by the state of emergency during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as gathering restrictions and other restrictions. The number of marriages per 1,000 population fell from 6.7 in 2019 to 5.6 in 2020, the CSB said.

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During the state of emergency declared in the country from 12 March to 9 June 2020 only both spouses and two adult witnesses were allowed to attend marriage ceremonies. The number of marriages during those three months fell rapidly and was 36 % below the respective period of 2019. The largest drop in the number of marriages, compared to 2019, was in May and June, when each month about 500 marriages fewer than last year were registered.

For the second time state of emergency with significant restrictions was declared on 9 November 2020 and was in force until 6 April this year. According to provisional data of marriages registered, as restrictions were reduced, in April and May 2021 more marriages were registered than in the respective months last year.

In 2020, compared to 2019, the number of first marriages fell by 15 %, but of remarriages – by 21 %. The number of marriages of Latvian citizens (including non-citizens) with citizens of other countries has dropped – if in 2019 share of such marriages was 4.8 %, in 2020 it was 3.5 %.

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Among the Baltic states, last year, compared to 2019, the reduction in the number of marriages in Estonia comprised only 4.6 %. At the second half of the year, compared to the previous year, the number of marriages in Estonia had actually increased.

The largest drop in the number of marriages was registered in Lithuania – in the breakdown by year marriages were registered 22% less than in 2019, moreover, the largest difference was observed in May, when, compared to 2019, the number of marriages fell by 67 %.

Shortly before gathering restrictions were imposed, in February 2020 the date 20.02.2020 was a popular one, leading to a spike in marriages in February, the CSB said.

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