Most adults in England and Wales are no longer in traditional marriages

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the percentage of adults in England and Wales who are in a traditional marriage with a partner of the opposite sex has fallen below 50% for the first time, standing at 49.8%. As reported by Christian Today ( ), the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) has expressed concern over these figures and criticized government initiatives aimed at granting legal benefits to cohabiting couples.

Although official ONS statistics indicate that 51.1% of the adult population is married or in a civil partnership, C4M emphasizes that when same-sex unions and civil partnerships are excluded, the rate of traditional marriages drops to 49.8%. An analysis of data from the past decade shows a steady decline in the popularity of traditional family ties: the proportion of people who have never been married rose from 32.6% to 34.9%, while the proportion of cohabiting couples has increased from 9.8% to 10.8%.

Experts are particularly concerned about the situation among the 45- to 69-year-old age group. According to C4M representatives, for this group, marriage has not simply been postponed but has been permanently excluded from their life model. Against this backdrop, the organization has spoken out against the government’s plans to grant cohabiting couples the same rights as officially registered families regarding property claims in the event of a separation or automatic inheritance.

Dr. Tony Ruchinski, C4M’s Director of Support Strategy, noted that marriage remains the most important institution for ensuring stability for children. According to the data cited, cohabiting parents separate 3.4 times more often than married parents, regardless of income level. The organization is calling on the public to participate in the government’s consultation on this issue by August 14, emphasizing that the institution of marriage is a key factor in preserving family unity.