Share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of births outside marriage was 47.6 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
47.6
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
18th
of 43 countries
All-time high
51.4
in 2022
All-time low
5.2
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2024
Share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom, 1960–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 47.6 for share of births outside marriage in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.8% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births outside marriage in United Kingdom peaked at 51.4 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.2, in 1960.
That places United Kingdom 18th out of 43 countries with data for 2024, 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% |
| 2022 | 51.4 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 49.5 | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 47.6 | -3.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 47.6 is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.23, 1.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 47.6 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 41.64, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
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 | 49.76 | 47.6 | 51.4 | 5 |
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 47.6 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births outside marriage recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 51.4 in 2022.
- 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 18th out of 43 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of births outside marriage rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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.
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