CIVIL CEREMONIES HAVE overtaken Catholic weddings as the most popular way to get married in Ireland, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The data, published today in a report on changes in Irish marriage ceremonies between 2014 and 2024, shows a significant shift away from traditional religious services over the past decade.

In 2024, civil ceremonies accounted for 6,743 marriages, making them the most common choice for couples.

Roman Catholic ceremonies, once dominant, fell to 6,425 marriages in 2024.

This is a drop of almost 51% compared to 2014, when they made up nearly six in every ten weddings.

Over the same period, the overall number of marriages declined by 7.7%, from 22,045 in 2014 to 20,348 in 2024.

The figures highlight a broader diversification in how couples are choosing to marry.

Humanist ceremonies rose by 68% over the decade, with 1,507 couples opting for this type of service in 2024.

Other alternative and interfaith ceremonies have also seen sharp growth, including those conducted by organisations such as the Spiritualist Union of Ireland and OneSpirit.

Together, the five most common ceremony types (civil, Roman Catholic, Humanist, Spiritualist Union of Ireland and OneSpirit) accounted for 85% of all marriages last year.

By contrast, more traditional denominations have seen declines.

Church of Ireland ceremonies, for example, fell by more than half over the decade and now account for less than 1% of all marriages.

Commenting on the figures, CSO statistician Seán O’Connor said the data reflects how the types of ceremonies chosen by couples have evolved over time.