Istat data

Marriages, more marriages between foreigners and 'new' Italians: here are the most common nationalities of origin

The decline in marriages in Italy continues in 2024, with an increase in unions between foreigners and new citizens

by Rome Editorial Staff

20 January 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

In Istat's latest report on marriages in Italy, characterised almost exclusively by negative trends, there are also some growing figures, namely those on unions between foreigners and new Italian citizens. In addition to this, the report confirms the decline in marriages both in 2024 and in the first months of 2025.

The decline in marriages

In 2024, in fact, 173,272 marriages were celebrated in Italy, 5.9% less than in 2023. On a territorial basis, the largest decrease is observed in the South (-8.3%); while it is smaller in the Centre (-5.0%) and in the North (-4.3%).

A trend that continues even when looking at the provisional figures for 2025 (up to September): compared to the same period in 2024, it is heading towards -5.9%.

Influencing the fall in the number of marriages, Istat explains, 'is, first and foremost, the reduction in the numerical consistency of the younger generations, which can be attributed to the persistent birth rate. This structural factor is accompanied by important changes of a cultural nature that are reflected in family choices and the propensity to marry'.

The other dips

In the report, comparing 2024 with 2023, the minus sign also accompanies first marriages (-6.3%), religious marriages (-11.4%), civil marriages (-2.5%), second marriages (-4.5%) and those withat least one foreign spouse (-1.4%). As well as related phenomena, including separations (-9%) and divorces (-3.1%).

The only 'plus sign'

Among mixed marriages (a total of 21 thousand in 2024), 16.5% involve an Italian spouse by acquisition (in 2018, it was half). Among marriages of both Italian spouses (144 thousand), those in which at least one of the two is Italian by acquisition are 4.9% (more than double the 2018 figure).

Considering marriages with at least one Italian spouse by acquisition celebrated in 2024, most of the new Italians are of Albanian, Moroccan and Romanian origin. When the bride by acquisition is of Romanian origin, it is particularly frequent that the partner is an Italian by birth (62.3%).

The nationality of the spouses in mixed marriages shows differences with respect to gender, and the reasons for these different wedding behaviours are to be found in the migratory projects and cultural characteristics of the different communities, as well as in the male or female prevalence of the communities present in Italy. In 2024, Italian men married a Romanian national in 19.1% of cases, Ukrainian in 9.7%, Brazilian in 6.1% and Russian in 5.0% (Figure 2). Italian women married more frequently to a groom of Moroccan (14.5%), Tunisian (8.6%), Albanian (7.4%) or Romanian (6.4%) nationality.