Children born to married parents could become a minority within five years. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that, in England and Wales, only 52.5% of women who gave birth last year were married.
The percentage of children born to married parents has been declining steadily for years; the figure stood at 61% in 2000. Andrea Williams comments: “Evidence reminds us that God’s pattern for marriage offers the best environment for bringing up a child.”