Scotland sees first mixed-sex civil partnerships registered

There were 5545 marriages registered in Scotland between April 1 and June 30 according to figures released today by National Records of Scotland.

This was 30 pre cent lower than the average number of second quarter marriages over the five years 2015-19 but a large increase on the number of marriages in the same period in 2020, following easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

There were 175 same-sex marriages, compared with a five-year average of 286 for quarter two in 2015-2019.

Since June this year mixed-sex couples have been able to form a civil partnership and of 46 civil partnerships registered in the second quarter of 2021, 22 involved mixed-sex couples.

11,441 births were registered in Scotland, a 13 per cent decrease on the average for quarter two between 2015-19.

The number of deaths was broadly in line with the five-year average. At13,771 this was 0.6 per cent higher than the equivalent period in 2015-19.

Coronavirus (Covid-19) was the underlying cause of 125 deaths during quarter two and there were four deaths due to adverse effects of Covid-19 vaccines.

Today’s figures when compared with the average for 2015-2019 also show:

• The number of cancer deaths rose by 3.4 per cent to 4046;

• The number of deaths from coronary heart disease fell by 1.1 per cent to 1628;

• The number of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease fell by nine per cent to 1262;

• Deaths from respiratory diseases fell by 29 per cent to 1124;

Julie Ramsay, vital events statistician, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on the number of marriages in Scotland, and only 117 weddings took place between April and June 2020.

“The number of marriages have since increased and there were 5545 marriages registered in the latest quarter. While this is still 30 per cent lower than the pre-pandemic period, it shows many more people in Scotland are tying the knot now that restrictions have eased.

“22 of 46 civil partnerships registered in quarter two were of mixed-sex couples, after civil partnerships were made available to all couples in June this year.”

The publication Births, Deaths and other Vital Events - Quarterly Figures is available here

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