How Many Weddings Per Year?

The wedding industry, currently valued at nearly $300 billion worldwide, is constantly adapting and changing as the modern world of love and romance evolves. Early estimates expect the industry to reach over $600 billion by 2032.

With this ever shifting landscape, how many weddings are actually happening every year? We’ll dive into that, plus take a look at some of the wedding industry’s most intriguing statistics, not just at home in the U.S, but worldwide.

Quick Wedding Statistics

Below are 6 notable facts about weddings worldwide and in the U.S.:

• There are approximately 2.1 million weddings every year in the United States
• Over 5,760 people get married every single day (US)
• 115,000 weddings take place every day worldwide meaning there are nearly 42 million marriages per year
• India has the most weddings annually with 5 times the U.S (Nearly 10 million)
• Las Vegas, unsurprisingly, is the city with the most weddings per year (US) with between 80,000 and 120,000 weddings per year
• California is the state with the most weddings per year with over 220,000
• Over 40% of marriages end in divorce

Keep reading for more information and facts about how many weddings there are.

How Many Weddings in The United States?

According to the latest available data, there were approximately 2.1 million weddings per year in the United States in 2023 [1].

California, due to its large population, hosts the most weddings per year with approximately 220,000 annually. However, Nevada, with its Las Vegas fame, hosts the most weddings per capita with over 150,000 weddings per year. 25.9 weddings per 1000 people. [2]

Most Popular States For Marriage

Certain states in the U.S. are more popular for weddings. While this is often population based, there are other external factors that likely impact wedding popularity. This can include climate, pop culture and diversity of urban and rural settings.

California hosts the most weddings per year with over 220,000. This is likely due to a combination of factors including its large population, picturesque locations and sunny weather.

Florida, another state with a favorable climate, hosts roughly 158,000 weddings annually. Other contributing factors to Florida’s popularity could include the legal ease to marry. Florida has one of the most straightforward marriage license requirements. In addition, Florida is also home to Walt Disney World; a popular marriage location with approximately 1,500 weddings taking place at the amusement park every year.

Nevada, specifically Las Vegas, is one of the most famous marital locations in the world. With between 81,000 and 120,000 weddings annually and 25.9 weddings per 1000 people, Nevada is the most popular US wedding location capita. [3]

Finally, Texas is the second most popular place to get married in the US with over 170,000 weddings per year. This is likely due to a range of different factors including its several highly populated cities, rich cultural history, and perhaps most importantly, ease of access. Many of the major cities in Texas have large airports making entry easy for guests and couples alike.

Weddings and Marriage Rates Per State

Here is a full breakdown of weddings per year per state plus the marriage rate.

* Estimated due to a combination of various sources.

United States Wedding Statistics

With over 2.1 million weddings per annum, and a reported worth of approximately 70.3 billion in the U.S [4], the wedding industry is constantly evolving and adapting to new market trends.

In 2023, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is approximately $33,900 [5] with the average age of marriage being 30 for men and 28 for women.

The most popular months to get married are June, September and October however this likely changes depending on location, specifically the climate of said location.

Banquet halls, hotels, historic buildings and of course, religious institutes are some of the most popular locations to get married. The average number of guests attending is around 115 [7].

Related Reading: How Many People Should I Invite To My Wedding?

The average engagement lasts about 15 months [8] although due to recent changes in the trend, this period is shortening. Couples are opting for more sustainable and eco-friendly weddings. The use of recycled materials, locally sourced food and outdoor ceremonies is ever increasing. In turn, this is reducing the popularity of large venues, increasing flexibility of location, and, as a result, reducing the requirement of a longer engagement length.

How Many Weddings In The World 2024

While there is no centralized data system for reporting the number of weddings worldwide, it is estimated that over 42 million weddings take place every year. That’s over 115,000 weddings every day.

As mentioned already, the U.S. has roughly 2.1 million per year, however, by comparison to other countries, most notably China and India, this is a relatively small number.

Countries With The Most Weddings Annually

It’s common sense that the countries with the most weddings annually tend to be the countries with the more densely populated cities, or, in general, countries with the larger populations. That being said, weddings around the world have different cultural and historical meanings. This can influence the popularity of weddings, and a result, the number of weddings per year.

India is deeply rooted in its cultural traditions with weddings making up a massive part of their beliefs. In terms of number of weddings per year, India tops the bill with around 10 million weddings annually. If you ever have the pleasure to visit India during wedding season, you won’t be able to walk down 10 paces without seeing a wedding. Many of the celebrations take part in “pop-up” venues and often like the streets during peak season.

As you would expect, a close second is China. With over 1.4 billion people, China sees approximately 8 million weddings each year [9]. Over four times the number of weddings in the United States.

Indonesia and Pakistan are also high on the list. Indonesia is known for its elaborate ceremonies with over 1.9 million weddings annually [10]. Pakistan is only slightly behind with an estimated 1.5 million weddings occurring every year [11].

Cities With The Most Weddings

When it comes to popular worldwide cities, several jump out although exact precise data is hard to come by.

As we’ve discussed already, Las Vegas, known as the wedding capital of the world, hosts between 80,000 and 120,000 weddings per year. But how about another famous city for lovers? Paris, the city of romance, hosts not only thousands (9,636 in 2022 [12]) of local weddings, but is famous for couples flying in for their destination wedding. That being said, the marriage rate across France is actually falling.

A few other notable mentions include Istanbul, Rome and Bangkok. While there is no official data for Istanbul, some estimates make it number 1 ahead of Las Vegas with over 160,000 weddings per annum [13].

Bangkok is estimated to host 66,000 weddings per year [14] whereas Rome (Lazio Region) estimates come in at around 15,000 [15].

Worldwide Wedding Statistics

The global wedding industry is valued at over $300 billion per annum with the average wedding costing anywhere between $10,000 and $100,000.

Countries with the highest marriage rates, not necessarily the number of weddings, include Iran, Egypt, and India. It’s in these countries where marriage is deeply embedded within the culture, tradition and religion of that country.

While the wedding industry may be growing, overall marriage rates are falling. The proportion of women aged 15-49 who are married fell from 69% in 1970 to 64% in 2020 [16].

It may be the case that marriages as a whole are declining, however second marriages are on the rise.

Most Popular Types of Weddings

Weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Long gone are the fixed, traditional, religious ceremonies. Many couples are now opting to change things up, from barn weddings to destination and elopements. Weddings in 2024 sure do look a lot different to 50 years ago.

Civil Ceremonies

Civil ceremonies are non-religious weddings conducted by a government official or civil celebrant. Traditionally these celebrations are straightforward and focus on the legal aspect of marriage. Many couples will opt to complete the legal requirements before hosting a party or event elsewhere.

It is estimated that about 60% of weddings globally are civil ceremonies.

Specific data is limited both worldwide and in the U.S. as most local clerk offices do not differentiate between civil and religious ceremonies.

The average cost of a civil ceremony is about $120 [16]. However this neglects officiant costs and is generally just considered a courthouse fee.

Church/Religious Weddings

While church weddings are in the fall, they still make roughly 40% of all weddings in the U.S.

The average cost of a church wedding is approximately $28,000 with an average guest list of around 150 attendees. Religious and church weddings tend to be bigger than civil ceremonies.

LGBTQ+ Gay Weddings

Same sex weddings have gained recognition and acceptance worldwide over the last few years. The legalization of such weddings has increased, not just in the U.S., but across the world [18].

The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001 [19]. Now, nearly 1,400 same-sex weddings take place every year [20].

South Africa is the only African country that permits same-sex marriage. Roughly 1,000 same-sex weddings happen every year in the country. [21]

In the U.S. there are approximately 1.2 million same-sex couple households with roughly 710,000 being married [22]. In Canada, roughly 3% of all Canadian weddings are same-sex marriages. [23]

Destination Weddings

Destination weddings are generally considered weddings overseas or, in some cases, out of state. Many couples are searching for either a truly romantic location, or on the hunt for better weather.

25% of all weddings are considered destination weddings [24] with an average cost of around $27,000 [25]. The average cost is slightly below the traditional average usually due to reduced guest lists. On average around 50 guests usually attend the big day.

In the U.S., some of the more popular destinations include Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Whereas in Europe, Paris, Rome and niche locations such as Lake Como in Italy, are very popular.

The destination wedding market size has grown in popularity with an expected growth from $27.46 billion in 2023 to $36.49 billion this year (2024) [26].

Elopements

Another alternative to the traditional wedding is an elopement. Couples choosing to elope are often looking to save on the high traditional wedding costs. The average cost of an elopement is around $5,000 [27].

In the U.S., approximately 10% of couples choose to elope, however, rather strikingly, up to 62% of engaged couples are interested and/or considering eloping for their wedding day [28].

How Many Divorces Per Year

This is an article about weddings rather than divorces, however it’s probably worth pointing out a few statistics regarding the number of marriages ending every year.

In the United States, around 675,000 divorces are finalized every year. That’s around 2.4 divorces per 1,000 people [29].

The Maldives leads the way with the highest divorce rate at 5.52 per 1,000 people, although this number tends to be volatile due to its small population. Kazakhstan and Russia follow closely behind with 4.6 and 3.9 respectively. The United States often sits around 10th in the list [30].

Data Notes and More

With nearly 15 years in the wedding industry we felt we were well versed to summarize the different marriage rates across the world.

We extensively researched the topic, citing sources from across the world. All sources were fully vetted. We used only the most up to date data, when possible, from leading sources within the industry and beyond. All sources are provided at the foot of this article.

Conclusion

Marriage continues to be a massive part of life and culture globally. With millions of people choosing to get married every year, the industry is consistently growing.

With 2.1 million weddings in the US, 42 million worldwide, the number of people getting married each year also grows. Despite this, marital rates are actually falling.

Changes in beliefs, the dynamic nature of relationships in the 21st century, and ever increasing financial challenges will likely negatively impact the marital rate in years to come. That being said, the underlying theme of love and commitment is as strong as ever.

Sources

[1] Wedding Report (2023). “7 Facts About The United States Wedding Market.”

[2] CDC (2022). “State Marriage Rates.”

[3] Clark County Clerk’s Office (2023). “Marriage Statistics.”

[4] Zippia (2023). “Wedding Industry Statistics.”

[5] The Knot (2023). “Real Weddings Study: Average Wedding Cost.”

[6] U.S. Census Bureau (2022). “Median Age at First Marriage.”

[7] The Knot (2023). “Average Wedding Guest List Size“

[8] The Knot (2023). “Average Engagement Length For Couples.”

[9] National Bureau of Statistics of China (2023). “Annual Marriage Statistics.”

[10] Statistics Indonesia (2023). “Marriage and Divorce Statistics.”

[11] Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (2023). “Marriage Statistics.”

[12] Insee (2022). “Total Number of Marriages Per Residence.”

[13] State Journal Register (2009). “Nuptial Numbers”. Please note, this data may be outdated.

[14] Statista (2022). “Thailand: Number of Weddings by Region.”

[15] The Telegraph (2019). “Here Comes The Bribe.”

[16] Our World In Data (2024). “Marriage & Divorce.”

[17] Brides (2023). “How Much Does It Cost To Get Married at a Courthouse.”

[18] Pew Research Center (2023). “Gay Marriage Around The World.”

[19] The Washington Post (2021). “What Country Was The First To Legalize Gay Marriage.”

[20] Statista (2022). “Netherlands Number of Marriages”

[21] South African Department of Home Affairs (2023). “Marriage and Divorce Statistics.”

[22] The United States Census Bureau (2022). “Number of Same-Sex Couples Exceeded 1 Million.”

[23] Statistics Canada (2023). “Marriage Statistics.”

[24] Condor Ferries (2023). “50+ Destination Wedding Statistics.”

[25] Zola (2019). “Destination Wedding Costs.”

[26] Research & Markets (2024). “Destination Wedding Global Market Report.”

[27] Brides (2023). “How Much Does It Cost To Elope.”

[28] Helzberg/PRN Newswire (2023). “National survey finds most engaged couples are considering eloping.”

[29] CDC (2022). “Marriage & Divorce)

[30] Advokatsmart (2024). “Global Divorce Statistics.”