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Cohabiting parents 'increasing' Cohabiting parents 'increasing'
(10 minutes later)
The number of cohabiting couples with children increased by 65% in the 10 years up to 2006, figures show. Cohabiting couples with children are the fastest-growing UK family type, official figures have shown.
The Office for National Statistics' study also found that between 1996 and 2006 the number of married people with children fell by 4%. The Office for National Statistics' (ONS) study found the number of cohabiting parents increased by 65% in the 10 years up to 2006.
Lone parents increased by 8% in the same period, the report said. It also found that during the same period the number of married people with children fell by 4%.
The ONS found that family types varied according to age. In 2001, half of cohabiting parents were headed by a person under the age of 35, it said. The study said family types varied according to age, with young people more likely to cohabit with a partner.
READ THE FINDINGS Focus on Families 2007 [1.10 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE FINDINGS Focus on Families 2007 [1.10 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The Focus on Families study found cohabiting couples with children increased in the decade up to 2006 from 1.4 million to 2.3 million, while the number of married parents fell to 12.1 million.The Focus on Families study found cohabiting couples with children increased in the decade up to 2006 from 1.4 million to 2.3 million, while the number of married parents fell to 12.1 million.
Younger people were more likely to cohabit, the ONS said, with 21% of women aged 25 to 29 between 2001 and 2003 having lived with a partner before they were 25. Younger people were more likely to cohabit, the ONS said, with half of cohabiting parents in 2001 headed by a person under the age of 35.
Some 21% of women aged 25 to 29 between 2001 and 2003 had lived with a partner before they were 25, the study found.
This compared with 1% three decades ago.This compared with 1% three decades ago.
Meanwhile, the research found lone parents increased to 2.6 million, with lone mothers tending to be younger than lone fathers.Meanwhile, the research found lone parents increased to 2.6 million, with lone mothers tending to be younger than lone fathers.
One in three lone mothers and one in ten lone fathers were under 35, the ONS said.One in three lone mothers and one in ten lone fathers were under 35, the ONS said.