Share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of births outside marriage was 51.3 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
51.3
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
15th
of 42 countries
All-time high
51.3
in 2021
All-time low
5.2
in 1960
Years of data
61
1960–2021
Share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom, 1960–2021
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 51.3 for share of births outside marriage in 2021. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.7% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom peaked at 51.3 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.2, in 1960.
That places United Kingdom 15th out of 42 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.2 | — |
| 1961 | 5.7 | +9.6% |
| 1962 | 6.3 | +10.5% |
| 1963 | 6.6 | +4.8% |
| 1964 | 6.9 | +4.5% |
| 1965 | 7.3 | +5.8% |
| 1966 | 7.6 | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 8.1 | +6.6% |
| 1968 | 8.2 | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 8.1 | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 8 | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 8.2 | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 8.4 | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 8.4 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 8.7 | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 9 | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 9.5 | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 10 | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 10.6 | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 11.5 | +8.5% |
| 1982 | 14.1 | +22.6% |
| 1983 | 15.4 | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 17 | +10.4% |
| 1985 | 18.9 | +11.2% |
| 1986 | 21 | +11.1% |
| 1987 | 22.9 | +9.0% |
| 1988 | 25.2 | +10.0% |
| 1989 | 26.6 | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 27.9 | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 29.8 | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 30.8 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 31.8 | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 32 | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 33.5 | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 35.5 | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 36.8 | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 37.6 | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 38.8 | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 39.5 | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 40.1 | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 40.6 | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 41.5 | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 42.3 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 42.9 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 43.7 | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 44.4 | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 45.4 | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 46.3 | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 46.9 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 47.3 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 47.6 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 47.5 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 47.6 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 47.9 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 47.7 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 48.2 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 48.4 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 48.5 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 49 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 51.3 | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7 | 5.2 | 8.2 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.98 | 8 | 10.6 | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.18 | 11.5 | 26.6 | 9 |
| 1990s | 33.45 | 27.9 | 38.8 | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.67 | 39.5 | 46.3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.76 | 46.9 | 48.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.15 | 49 | 51.3 | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.184 (2100)
- Population density 307.14 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.21 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom?
- Share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom was 51.3 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births outside marriage recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 51.3 in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of births outside marriage recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2 in 1960.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of births outside marriage?
- United Kingdom ranks 15th out of 42 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of births outside marriage rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of births outside marriage. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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