February 16, 2026

Civil partnerships gain in popularity as marriage declines

The number of couples entering into a civil partnership (CP) grew by nearly 10% in 2023 compared with 2022 (the latest year where ONS data is available), while marriages declined by a similar percentage in the same period.

In 2023 there were 224,402 marriages (same and mixed-sex*), down 9.1% on 2022’s 246,897 figure. Meanwhile, 7547 CPs (same and mixed-sex*) were recorded – a 9.7% rise on 2022’s 6879 figure. Of the 2023 CP figure, 6179 involved mixed-sex couples, a rise of about 7.3% year on year (5760 in 2022). The remainder were same-sex CPs, at 1368, up 22.25% (1119 in 2022).

This data is according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistics issued late last year and analysed by proponents of civil partnerships.

The rise in popularity of both kinds of civil partnership lifted CPs’ share of  all marriages and partnerships from 2.8% to 3.3% (according to the ONS). Mixed-sex CPs’ share of all unions also rose proportionally, from 2.3% to 2.7%.

The choice of a mixed-sex civil partnership rose in 7 out of 10 age groups, with particular gains among under‑25s and those aged 25–29. This is notable because it means that CPs are becoming an increasing popular choice among young people after a period where older couples were making the running. This was possibly because older couples had a long-held desire to legalise a union without recourse to marriage and their opportunity came in 2020 and onwards when mixed-sex civil partnerships were legalised in England & Wales (with Scotland and Northern Ireland following suit a bit later).

This law change followed a legal, political and popular battle coordinated by the Equal Civil Partnership Campaign group from 2015-2020.

Although numbers remain low compared to mixed-sex marriages (by far the most popular type of union) the upward trend in CPs — especially among younger adults — highlights a modest but meaningful shift away from traditional marriage patterns. 

Civil partnerships are now an established alternative form of formal commitment for a growing cohort of couples.

(* NB. the ONS uses the term “opposite-sex”, however we prefer the term “mixed-sex” to avoid stereotyping and to take account of unions by couples of any kind.)