Births Outside of Marriage
In 2011 nearly half of all babies in England and Wales were born outside marriage/civil partnership (47.2 per cent), compared with 46.8 per cent in 2010 and 40.0 per cent in 2001. The figure was 8 per cent in 1971.
Source: Births and Deaths in England and Wales 2011 ONS Statistical Bulletin Oct 2012
In Northern Ireland 41.9 per cent of babies born in 2011 were born to unmarried parents.
Source: http://www.nisra.gov.uk/demography/default.asp2.htm
In Scotland more than half (51.7 per cent) of all babies born in Scotland in 2012 were born to unmarried parents.
Source: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/vital-events/general/bmd-preliminary/2012.html