Singletons are taking over the UK, one by one

The Bridget Jones generation prefers going solo, writes John John Bingham Bingham

THE speed at which the singleton lifestyle bemoaned by Bridget Jones is taking hold in Britain is exposed in new research showing that the number of people living alone is growing 10 times as fast as the overall population.

Estimates drawn from government studies suggest that the number of single households in the UK has more than doubled in the past 40 years and now stands at almost nine million, according to one measure.

It concludes that young people will spend 50% longer living alone than members of their parents’ generation.

Typical Britons in their 20s are now likely to live alone for an average of 15 years during their lifetime, instead of the 10 years those approaching retirement might experience. This is the result of people marrying later, living longer and being more likely to divorce.

Together, the trends amount to a transformation in the shape of British households within a generation as working-age people increasingly embrace the single lifestyle. Yet the research also suggests that those living alone pay an average of £1 800 (about R31 000) more on housing, utilities and household expenses than those who are part of a couple.

The estimates, compiled by analysts using a combination of projections from the Government Actuary’s Department and data from the Office for National Statistics, suggest the number of single households has leapt from just 3.8 million in 1974 to 8.7 million now, a rise of 129%.

During that time, the overall population has grown by 13% — a rapid increase, but less marked than the growth in people outside traditional families.

Although life expectancy has significantly improved in the past 40 years, leading to rapid growth in the elderly population, the surge in single households cannot be explained by an increase in widows. The most recent census showed that although the number of pensioners had grown by 10% in a decade, the number of widows and widowers fell.

The growing number of people in their 20s and 30s opting to live alone have been nicknamed the Bridget Jones generation after the character in the books by Helen Fielding, later adapted into films starring Renee Zellweger.

The 2011 census showed that in some areas popular with young professionals, particularly in London, single people were now the dominant group.

Richard Rowney, managing director for life and pensions at Liverpool Victoria, which commissioned the study, said:

The trends amount to a transformation in the shape of households within a generation

“Living alone no longer has a stigma attached to it. Far from it, people are choosing to remain independent — and from a younger age.

“This is due to a combination of lifestyle changes, such as people wanting to concentrate on careers, marrying later, as well as higher divorce rates.”

Polling suggests that couples have an average of £6 000 in savings, and those who live alone typically have just £2 000.

Almost a quarter of single people said their savings would run out within a fortnight.

“People’s living arrangements are changing and more people are choosing to hold on to their independence for longer and live alone,” said Rowney.

“Although the freedom of living alone has many advantages, it is important to realise the financial cost of independence. A worrying number of people do not have a backup plan.” — ©