Poland marks record low in marriage rate
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
14.11.2013 18:45
The number of marriages in Poland over the first eight months of 2013 represents a 10 percent drop compared with the same period in 2012.
Photo: Glowimages
It is the fourth year in a row that that the number has fallen.
Some 117,000 couples got married in Poland from January to the end of August, according to the Central Statistical Office (GUS).
Even if the rate of marriages suddenly accelerated to last year's tempo, it would still not be enough to prevent an outcome that would mark the lowest number since 1945.
Professor Irena Kotowska from the Warsaw School of Economics told the Rzeczpospolita daily that there has been a sea change in customs, with many young Poles living in informal relationships, with some 21 percent of children now born outside marriage.
However, emigration has created a gaping hole.
Pawel Kaczmarczyk from the Centre for Migration Research (OBM) noted that 11 percent of those born in the years 1977-1986 have left the country, settling in states such as Ireland and Great Britain. (nh)