This is not just a German phenomenon. Across Europe, the average age at first marriage has been steadily increasing. The main reason is less about a growing aversion to commitment and more often rooted in economic factors.

Academic Degrees Delay Economic Stability

When it comes to marriage, it is often associated with traditional patterns that involve costs—possibly a larger apartment, more or new furniture, and ideally even starting a family. These things are expensive and are usually planned only after entering the workforce. For university graduates, this means first establishing themselves professionally after finishing their studies in their mid-twenties. The number of university graduates in Germany has been steadily rising. While the academic rate was 17 percent in 2000 (source: Wikipedia), it increased to around 25 percent by 2023 (source: Federal Employment Agency). On the one hand, this means the share of highly qualified workers has risen significantly, but on the other hand, the proportion of young people earning incomes that allow for family planning has decreased.

Another reason lies in the form of cohabitation. Many couples live together without being married. It is often only when the topic of having children—planned or unplanned—arises that some decide to marry. Additionally, continued employment leads to higher incomes over time, which eventually brings the tax benefits of marriage into focus.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, 50 percent of adult Germans were married as of February 2025—10 percent fewer than 30 years ago (source: destatis).

Number of Unmarried Couples Remains Steady

Compared to the number of married Germans, the number of unmarried individuals living in shared households has remained relatively constant. In 2019, 6.5 million people in Germany lived together without being married (source: bpb). By 2023, this figure was 3.3 million couples—or 6.6 million people (source: Berliner Morgenpost).

What Do These Numbers Mean for the Future?

For years now, two-room apartments—typically between 50 and 70 square meters and ideal for single-person households—have been considered one of the best investments in the rental property market. Being in a relationship does not necessarily mean living together. The number of single-person households increased from 15.5 million in 2012 to 17 million in 2023 (source: Statista). This trend will put even more pressure on an already overheated real estate sector.

For the state, delayed marriages—or no marriages at all—mean more citizens remain in tax class I, resulting in higher income tax revenues.