When it comes to marriage and divorce, is gen Z the sensible generation? | Van Badham
Guardian AU
β’Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:00:21 GMT
π° What Happened
In an opinion column, Guardian columnist Van Badham welcomes Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing the marriage rate is declining, arguing it reflects Australia's freedom and opportunity for individuals to make the best decisions for themselves. The ABS figures show the crude rate of registered marriages per 1,000 residents aged 16 and over fell from 5.5 in 2024 to 5.3 in 2025, with the largest falls among the 25-29 and 30-34 age groups. Divorces granted rose 4.1%, with the crude divorce rate up from 2.1 to 2.2.
π The Backstory
Van Badham is a prominent Australian playwright, author and progressive commentator who describes herself as a happily married gen Xer. The column is a personal reflection on social change, drawing on the fact that within her lifetime Australian law once compelled people in unhappy relationships to remain married, prior to divorce law reform. She argues that declining marriage rates, including among gen Z, are a sign of a sensible, progressive nation.
π― Why It Matters
The column taps into a broader social conversation about how younger Australians are approaching marriage and relationships compared with older generations, and what declining marriage rates mean for Australian society. It frames demographic data in a positive, reproductive-freedom-aligned light, contributing to the ongoing national debate about the value and future of marriage as an institution.
In an opinion column, Guardian columnist Van Badham welcomes Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing the marriage rate is declining, arguing it reflects Australia's freedom and opportunity for individuals to make the best decisions for themselves. The ABS figures show the crude rate of registered marriages per 1,000 residents aged 16 and over fell from 5.5 in 2024 to 5.3 in 2025, with the largest falls among the 25-29 and 30-34 age groups. Divorces granted rose 4.1%, with the crude divorce rate up from 2.1 to 2.2.
Van Badham is a prominent Australian playwright, author and progressive commentator who describes herself as a happily married gen Xer. The column is a personal reflection on social change, drawing on the fact that within her lifetime Australian law once compelled people in unhappy relationships to remain married, prior to divorce law reform. She argues that declining marriage rates, including among gen Z, are a sign of a sensible, progressive nation.
The column taps into a broader social conversation about how younger Australians are approaching marriage and relationships compared with older generations, and what declining marriage rates mean for Australian society. It frames demographic data in a positive, reproductive-freedom-aligned light, contributing to the ongoing national debate about the value and future of marriage as an institution.