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More babies out of marriage than ever before - and what? More babies out of marriage than ever before - and what?
(2 months later)
By 2016, most babies will be born outside of marriage if current trends continue. That, for many, has been the most interesting sentence to come out of the numbers.By 2016, most babies will be born outside of marriage if current trends continue. That, for many, has been the most interesting sentence to come out of the numbers.
But why? It seems a surprising forecast to pull out when the historic data offers so many other gems. Perhaps drawing that one conclusion says more about our views on marriage than it does about changes in British society.But why? It seems a surprising forecast to pull out when the historic data offers so many other gems. Perhaps drawing that one conclusion says more about our views on marriage than it does about changes in British society.
How our focus is in itself quite revealingHow our focus is in itself quite revealing
The decline of the traditional married family is certainly a big issue for some. After the figures were announced children's minister Tim Loughton called for the coalition government's proposed tax-allowance for the married to be revived.The decline of the traditional married family is certainly a big issue for some. After the figures were announced children's minister Tim Loughton called for the coalition government's proposed tax-allowance for the married to be revived.
Over 50% of babies being born out of wedlock would also have shocked those sixty years earlier in 1946 when just 6.6% were born to an unmarried mother.Over 50% of babies being born out of wedlock would also have shocked those sixty years earlier in 1946 when just 6.6% were born to an unmarried mother.
However, by paying attention to whether the child was born in or outside of marriage we are ignoring some of the huge changes that the latest birth figures reveal.However, by paying attention to whether the child was born in or outside of marriage we are ignoring some of the huge changes that the latest birth figures reveal.
Mothers are getting older
Mothers are getting older
For example, the average age a woman gives birth continues to go up, and has risen to the highest number since records began. Admittedly, the leap from 2011 to 2012 was a modest 0.1% increase, which made the mean age of mothers 29.8. However, it has been steadily climbing for some time, increasing by roughly a year each decade since the mid-1970s.For example, the average age a woman gives birth continues to go up, and has risen to the highest number since records began. Admittedly, the leap from 2011 to 2012 was a modest 0.1% increase, which made the mean age of mothers 29.8. However, it has been steadily climbing for some time, increasing by roughly a year each decade since the mid-1970s.
The number of women over 40 giving birth has tripled from 10,000 in 1992 to 30,000 in 2012. Although, perhaps surprisingly, a similar number of babies were being born to women of that age in the 1940s.The number of women over 40 giving birth has tripled from 10,000 in 1992 to 30,000 in 2012. Although, perhaps surprisingly, a similar number of babies were being born to women of that age in the 1940s.
There was also some illuminating information for the three out of four British people that believe teenage pregnancy is a big problem for the country.There was also some illuminating information for the three out of four British people that believe teenage pregnancy is a big problem for the country.
In truth, births to women under 20 have been declining quite drastically in England and Wales since the late 90s. A women under 20 is now 10% less likely to have a child than a woman of the same age a decade ago.In truth, births to women under 20 have been declining quite drastically in England and Wales since the late 90s. A women under 20 is now 10% less likely to have a child than a woman of the same age a decade ago.
These statistics also obscure the fact that a married woman under 44 is more likely to have a child now than she has ever been since 1972. 10.4% of married women of that age gave birth in 2012, compared to 7.8% in 2000.These statistics also obscure the fact that a married woman under 44 is more likely to have a child now than she has ever been since 1972. 10.4% of married women of that age gave birth in 2012, compared to 7.8% in 2000.
It is also worth noting the mean marriage age in 2011, 33.6, was above the mean birth age of 29.6, so younger mothers may not have got round to tying the knot just yet.It is also worth noting the mean marriage age in 2011, 33.6, was above the mean birth age of 29.6, so younger mothers may not have got round to tying the knot just yet.
A new baby boom?A new baby boom?
While it's less likely for a baby to be born within a marriage, there is certainly some cheery news for baby fans generally. A slowdown in the overall number of births has quite dramatically reversed over the last decade.While it's less likely for a baby to be born within a marriage, there is certainly some cheery news for baby fans generally. A slowdown in the overall number of births has quite dramatically reversed over the last decade.
There were 721,600 maternities in 2012, which is a jump of over 100,000 from 2002 and the highest number that have been born in a single year since 1972. Perhaps this means we could be on track for a new baby boom, which, with rising life expectancies factored in, might just be a wee bit more important than whether those babies are born out of marriage.There were 721,600 maternities in 2012, which is a jump of over 100,000 from 2002 and the highest number that have been born in a single year since 1972. Perhaps this means we could be on track for a new baby boom, which, with rising life expectancies factored in, might just be a wee bit more important than whether those babies are born out of marriage.
Download the dataDownload the data
• DATA: download the full spreadsheet• DATA: download the full spreadsheet
Can you do more with this data?Can you do more with this data?
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