Economic recovery ‘led to fewer couples breaking up’

SINGLE-PARENT families are on the decline, government statistics show, as experts claim that Britain’s economic recovery from the 2008 financial crisis led to fewer couples separating over money disputes.

The Office for National Statistics published its annual survey on families and households yesterday, analysing trends in living arrangements including families with and without children, those living alone and people in shared accommodation.

Researchers found that the number of single-parent families in 2020 (2,856,000) fell 2.95 per cent from the figure in 2010 (2,943,000).

At the same time, the number of married couples with children went from 4,701,000 in 2011 to 5,042,000 last year – an increase of 7.2 per cent.

Couples with children who were living together but not married or in a civil partnership also rose from 5.9 per cent of all families in 2010 to 6.5 per cent (1,040,000) last year.

Family lawyers suggested that the decrease in single-parent families is due to the aftermath of the 2008 recession; when family finances eventually improved and fewer couples broke up due to arguments over money.

Laura Guillon, senior associate solicitor at Hall Brown Family Law, said: “When times are tough financially, money can be a source of tension at home and lead to couples breaking up. However, when fortunes recover, money becomes less of a point of conflict and can be a reason to set up home together. Doing so amounts to a considerable financial undertaking and is a sign of economic recovery. There’s also something of an aspiration quality to marriage, in that it demonstrates stability and commitment.

“Having said that, couples who may have been exposed to the pressures of the recession arguably seem to enter marriage with their eyes open more than ever before, especially when it comes to their finances.”

The ONS data showed families with one parent made up 14.7 per cent of all families in the UK last year – compared to 16.28 per cent in 2010.

There were also 2,653,000 cohabiting households without children.

The ONS said: “The number of families and households in the UK has continued to rise in line with the growth of the UK population over the past decade.

“Married and civil-partnered couple families remain the most common family type, but this is a declining trend, as more people choose to live together before, or without, getting married.

“While average household size has remained stable over the last two decades, the proportion of people who live alone has increased and multifamily households, despite making up a very small proportion, has been the fastest growing household type over this period.”