Tu B'Av 2026: Israelis Love, but Less Eager to Marry

Ahead of Tu B'Av, Central Bureau of Statistics data reveals an increase in couples living together without marriage, a decline in marriage rates, and a delay in marriage age. Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Ramat Gan lead in the percentage of young singles.

Ahead of Tu B'Av, the Central Bureau of Statistics publishes data on relationship patterns in Israel. Since 2008, there has been an increase in couples living together without marriage – from 2.5% in 2000 to 7.1% in 2024. Concurrently, since 2016, there has been a decline in marriage rates, which has stabilized in recent years. In 2024, 53,025 couples married in Israel – a 10% increase compared to 2023, the year the Iron Swords War broke out. 89.4% of Jewish marriages were between singles. The average marriage age for Jewish grooms was 27.3, for brides 25.6 – a slight increase from 2023. The percentage of singles aged 25-29 rose from 57% to 65% among men, and from 36% to 53% among women. Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Ramat Gan lead in the percentage of young singles; Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh are the lowest. 12,159 marriages were registered abroad, most in the US (54%) and Cyprus (24%).