Four out of ten children now born outside marriage

New figures released today by the Office of National Statistics [ONS] reveals that the number of babies born outside marriage has leapt 12% in a generation. The latest figures show that 42% of children in 2004 were born outside marriage. ' Although most children are born to married couples, this substantial rise in births outside marriage is a reflection of the rising trend in cohabiting parents,' said the ONS editor Hayley Butcher.

Other trends identified by the government show a rise in young men living at home. 57% of men aged 20 to 24 lived with their parents in 2005 - up from 50% in 1991 - compared with just 38% of women - up from 32%.

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