1,387 couples got married in Church last year

A total of 1,387 couples got married in Church last year, according to the Maltese Archdiocese.

The number represents a marginal increase over Church marriages registered in 2013.

Out of the total, 1,183 marriages were between Maltese nationals. Out of the 53 marriages between Maltese nationals and foreigners, 29 were between Maltese Catholics and foreign Catholics; 20 between Maltese Catholics and non-Catholic Christians; and four marriages of Maltese nationals with non-Christians. 13 marriages between Maltese couples living abroad were registered in Malta and 138 foreign couples got married in Malta.

11 of the foreigners who got married to Maltese nationals were Italians and 10 were British.

May, June and July were confirmed as the most popular months when to get married. Most of those who got married last year were aged between 20 and 29.

There were also 48 marriages that were convalidated, where couples sought to have their union officially recognised by the Church.

During the same year, six widows and widowers got married while 28 got married for the second time after their first marriage was annulled by the Church.

The data excludes Church marriages in Gozo.