More than half of babies in England and Wales are born outside marriage
In short
In 2022, 51.4% of births in England and Wales were registered outside marriage or civil partnership, according to the ONS. Most of these were not to lone mothers: 69.3% were joint registrations by parents living at the same address. Attitudes moved in step, with British Social Attitudes recording a sharp fall in support for marrying before having children.
What the full article will cover
- How many babies are born outside marriage today?
- Who are the parents?
- How has the share changed since the twentieth century?
- How have attitudes to marriage and children changed?
- Does it matter legally whether parents are married?
Frequently asked questions
- When did births outside marriage overtake births inside marriage?
- Does an unmarried father automatically have parental responsibility?
- Is the trend the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
- Are children of unmarried parents treated differently in law?
Sources
- ons.gov.uk — https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthcharacteristicsinenglandandwales/2022
- bsa.natcen.ac.uk — https://www.bsa.natcen.ac.uk/latest-report/british-social-attitudes-30/personal-relationships/introduction.aspx
- legislation.gov.uk — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1987/42/section/1
General information, not legal or religious advice.