The middle-age marriage SHUNNERS
AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THEIR FORTIES AND FIFTIES ARE SINGLE
THE number of middle-age marriage-shunners has hit a record high.
That is according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics. The figures reveal that last year there were 1.9 million people aged between 40 and 59 years old in England and Wales who have never married and who were not living in a couple.
The number of people in this age group opting out of marriage or cohabitation has rocketed by 72.3% since 2002, when comparable records began.
In 2002, there were 1.1 million singletons among the 40 to 59 age group.
This group is also making up an increasing proportion of the middle-age population.
In 2018, they accounted for 12.0% of people aged between 40 and 59, compared to 7.8% back in 2002.
The figures reveal that middle-aged men were more likely than women to not be coupled-up in 2018.
The figures show 1.0 million men
aged between 40 and 59 were not married or cohabiting last year accounting for 13.3% of men in that age range.
That compared with 0.8 million women - or 10.8% of that age group.
However, the gap has narrowed. In 2002, 9.9% of men aged 40 to 59 had never been married and weren’t living with a partner, compared with 5.8% of women.
The figures are based on responses to the Labour Force Survey, so some of those asked may be in a couple, just
not living together.
One reason for the increase may be more people choosing to stay single – studies have shown that being single can bring different benefits to being married.
Research shows single people tend to have greater involvement with the broader community than their married peers, and that those who aren’t in a couple, whether never married, divorced or widowed, tend to value their freedom more.
There may also be less societal pressure to marry.
While nearly half of people aged 16 and over across England and Wales (48.3%) were married or in a civil partnership in 2018, that was down from 52.3% in 2002.
Overall, the figures reveal one in four people had never been married and wasn’t cohabiting in 2018.
Edward Morgan, Centre for Ageing and Demography, Office for National Statistics said: “The proportion of people married has been in decline over the last decade, while the single population has been increasing.
“However, those in their 70s and beyond are seeing a different trend where, despite a modest rise in the divorced population, the proportion of people aged 70 years and over who are married has been increasing at a greater rate.”