FOR the sixth year in a row, more couples tied the knot last year – but more also called it quits.

The number of marriages grew by 6 per cent, from 24,596 in 2008 to 26,081 last year. However, marriage rates dipped. Out of every 1,000 single men in the population, only 43.6 walked down the aisle last year, down from 43.9 in 2008.

The figure for women fell to 41.1 last year, from 41.9 in 2008.

Those who got married last year were older than couples who got hitched earlier. The
median age of marriage for men rose from 28.5 in 1999 to 29.8 last year, while that for women increased from 26 to 27.5.

The number of divorces and annulments grew by about 2 percent, from 7,220 in 2008 to 7,386 last year.

But the rate of divorces has remained fairly stable since 2005, with about two divorces
for every 1,000 residents.