Poland sees drop in church weddings as couples favor civil ceremonies

Data for 2025 show that Poland recorded more civil marriages than religious ones for the second time in history, with 133,200 new unions reported. After adjusting for couples already married, just over 58 % chose a church ceremony, down from more than three‑quarters in 2015. Regional differences are marked: in Łódź the share of religious weddings fell below 30 %, while some eastern counties still exceed 70 %.

At the same time, couples attending mandatory pre‑marriage courses report outdated content and gender stereotypes. One pair described the instruction as “humiliating” and reminiscent of 1950s family models, prompting criticism from psychologists who call for modern, evidence‑based relationship education.