Same-sex marriages in Quebec reached a peak of 743 in the year 2024, marking a significant milestone since their legalization in 2004. However, despite this increase, these marriages still only account for three percent of all marriages in the province, a proportion that has remained steady for several years.
The recent Bulletin on Marriages in 2024, published by the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), sheds light on the marriage trends in Quebec. While same-sex marriages have seen a rise, marriages of all types continue to be relatively rare in the region.
Overall, Quebec witnessed a total of over 23,000 weddings in the past year, a number that has been consistent within the range of 22,000 to 23,500 since the early 2000s. This figure represents a notable decline compared to the 1970s when over 50,000 weddings were held annually.
Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant drop in the number of weddings in 2020 and 2021. Despite expectations for a rebound in 2022 and 2023, the recovery was only partial, with fewer new wedding plans coming to fruition.
In terms of same-sex marriages, the data reveals that last year, 382 couples consisting of two women tied the knot, slightly surpassing the 361 marriages among men. Interestingly, this trend of more female couples getting married has been observed since 2018, whereas in the years following the legalization of same-sex marriages, male couples had dominated.
Moreover, the report highlights that summer remains the preferred season for weddings, with over half (57 percent) of the ceremonies in 2024 taking place between June and September.
