Tel Aviv Leads in Highest Percentage of Single Young Adults Amid Rising Marriage Age in Israel

The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics released its 2024 marriage data on Tuesday, revealing a rebound in weddings following a decline during the outbreak of the Iron Swords war. In 2024, 53,025 couples married in authorized religious institutions across Israel, marking a 10% increase from 2023. Of these, approximately 71% were Jewish (37,646 couples), 25.8% Muslim (13,690), 1.8% Druze (937), and 1.3% Christian (687). The overall marriage rate rose by 3.9% compared to 2023, with a 5.9% increase among Jews, while Muslim, Christian, and Druze communities saw slight declines.

The report highlights a continuing trend of delayed marriage age and a growing proportion of singles among young Jewish adults. The average age for first-time Jewish grooms in 2024 was 27.3 years, unchanged from previous years, while brides averaged 25.6 years, slightly up from 25.4 in 2023. The percentage of single Jewish men aged 25-29 rose from 57% in 2000 to 65% in 2024, and single Jewish women in the same age group increased from 36% to 53%. Among older adults aged 45-49, the share of singles also grew significantly.

Geographically, among large cities with over 100,000 residents, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Herzliya, and Ramat Gan have the highest percentages of single Jewish adults aged 25-29, whereas Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh have the lowest. For the 45-49 age group, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Ramat Gan, and Bat Yam lead in single rates, while Beit Shemesh, Modiin-Maccabim-Reut, and Bnei Brak report the lowest.

Additionally, 8,235 marriages involving at least one Israeli resident were registered abroad in 2024. About half occurred that year, with others dating back to 2023 or earlier. Among Jewish couples marrying abroad, over half wed in the United States, nearly a quarter in Cyprus, and 4% in Georgia. Mixed couples with one Jewish partner also favored the U.S., Russia, Georgia, and Ethiopia as marriage locations.

The data underscores evolving marriage patterns in Israel, including delayed nuptials and regional variations in singlehood, reflecting broader social changes within the Jewish population.