The national statistics office in Italy (Istat) has released a report that found marriages in Italy fell by 6% from 2009 to 2010.
Weddings have been on the decline for the last 20 years, but the most recent figures show a large increase over the 1.2% average drop seen in the last two decades.
Regionally, some of the statistics were even higher. Lazio saw the greatest decrease in weddings, falling 9.4% in the last two years. Lombardy also exhibited a large 8% decline in vows.
That’s not to say that there is no amore in Italy. Istat found that more young adults were moving in together before thinking about a trip down the aisle. Experts suspect that young people may be delaying marriage because of the tight economy. Many Italian couples are waiting to establish themselves with jobs and homes before saying ‘I Do.’