The table provides information about marriage status and the average age of brides and bridegrooms in Australia from 1960 to 2000. It shows the number of religious and civil marriages, as well as changes in the average age of marriage over the years.
Overall, the number of religious marriages fluctuated, while civil marriages showed a steady increase. Additionally, the average age of both brides and bridegrooms rose throughout the period.
In 1960, religious marriages were significantly higher (25,000) compared to civil marriages (8,000). By 1980, religious marriages peaked at 50,000, while civil marriages reached 16,000. However, after 1980, religious marriages dropped to 32,000 in 1990 and then slightly increased to 34,000 in 2000. In contrast, civil marriages continued to grow, reaching 40,000 in 2000.
Regarding age, the average age of brides increased from 21 in 1960 to 30 in 2000. Similarly, the average age of bridegrooms rose from 24 to 32 over the same period.