Two thirds of marriages between Maltese nationals and between Maltese nationals with foreign nationals are Church marriages

The number of Church marriages in 2018 stands at 1,192. This figure includes 62 convalidated marriages in Malta which are not included in the total of Church marriages given in Parliament. A convalidated marriage means that a couple who had only married civilly would have subsequently chosen to also get married in Church. This total does not include Church marriages celebrated in Gozo.

The total number of Church marriages between foreign nationals stands at 73. If the number of marriages between foreign nationals is deducted, the number of Church marriages between Maltese nationals and between couples with one Maltese party, stands at 1,119.

The number of civil marriages in 2018 stands at 1,423[1]. This includes: marriages between a man and a woman, same sex marriages[2], second marriages and marriages between foreign nationals.

The total number of civil marriages between foreign nationals stands at 850[3]. If the number of marriages between foreign nationals is deducted, the number of civil marriages between Maltese nationals and between couples with one Maltese party, stands at 573.

Therefore, the total number of civil and Church marriages in Malta in 2018 stands at 2,614 and the total of marriages between Maltese couples and between couples with one Maltese party stands at 1,692.

The statistics for 2018 also indicate that from the total number of marriages in Malta between Maltese couples, and Maltese nationals with foreign nationals, 66% (equivalent to 1,119) chose a Church marriage, and 34% (equivalent to 573) married civilly. This means that two thirds of marriages held between Maltese nationals and between Maltese with foreign nationals are Church marriages.

[1] Source: PQ 8458 – Answered during session 188 of the 28^th January 2019.

[2] According to the information given in Parliament (PQ 8399), since as from 1 September 2017 the Marriage Equality Act came into force, no statistics regarding gender are kept in the Public Registry.

[3] Source: Public Registry.