Israeli Weddings Rebound in 2024 Amid Shifts in Marriage Age and Cohabitation Trends

Ahead of Tu B'Av, the Hebrew love holiday, Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics released updated data on marriage trends in the country. After a decline during the "Iron Swords" war period, the number of couples marrying in 2024 has significantly recovered, with 53,025 marriages recorded, marking a 10% increase compared to 2023. Of these, approximately 71% were Jewish couples, 26% Muslim, and the remainder Christian and Druze.

Despite the rise in weddings, the average age at first marriage remains relatively high, continuing a decades-long trend. In 2024, the average age for Jewish grooms marrying for the first time was 27.3 years, while Jewish brides averaged 25.6 years. Meanwhile, there is a notable increase in couples choosing to live together without formal marriage; the percentage of Jewish couples cohabiting without marriage nearly tripled from 2.5% in 2000 to 7.1% today.

The data also highlights a growing proportion of unmarried individuals in their late twenties, with about 65% of Jewish men and 53% of Jewish women aged 25-29 remaining single. Cities like Tel Aviv-Yafo, Herzliya, and Ramat Gan show the highest rates of singleness in this age group, whereas Beit Shemesh and Bnei Brak have the lowest.

Additionally, thousands of Israeli couples continue to marry abroad, with 8,235 marriages registered outside Israel in 2024 involving at least one partner listed in the Israeli population registry. This suggests that overseas weddings remain a significant option for many.

Overall, the Tu B'Av statistics reflect evolving patterns in Israeli relationships, including delayed marriage age, increased cohabitation, and diverse family structures, while marriage itself remains a central institution for tens of thousands of couples annually.