Fewer South Africans tying the knot
2013-02-06 17:31
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Johannesburg
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Johannesburg - Fewer South Africans are getting married,
with the number of registered unions dropping by nearly 10% between 2003 and
2010, a study showed on Wednesday.
"The number of civil and customary marriages
registered every year declined by 8%," the South African Institute of Race
Relations (Sairr) a survey found despite a 12% population growth over the same
seven years.
Customary marriages took the largest plunge, dropping 42%
compared to civil marriages that declined by 4%.
In the meantime, the number of households grew 19% over
the same period.
In South Africa, customary marriages are a negotiated
contract conducted by families under African traditional systems while civil
marriages are performed by government-licensed officers, including religious
officers.
Sairr said marriage trends were a barometer of lifestyle
changes.
"The number of households is going up and the
average household size is going down. This suggests that more people may be
choosing to live on their own or with unmarried partners," said Thuthukani
Ndebele, a researcher with the institute.
