Changing dynamics of families including lone parent families: insights from 2021 ONS census data

Introduction

In recent years, the structure and composition of UK families have undergone significant changes, reflecting the evolving social fabric of our society. Lone parent families and same-sex families in particular have seen changes in numbers and proportions.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released census data comparing families between 2011 and 2021, shedding light on the evolving trends.

In this piece, we will explore the key findings and implications of the ONS data, highlighting the changing dynamics of families and the implications for them.

1.How many families were there in England and Wales in 2021 and how were they constituted?

There were:

• 16.9 million families
• 81.3% of families were couples
• 18.7% were lone parents.

Of those families:

• 17.1% of families had non-dependent children
• 41.5% of families had dependent children (41.5%)
• 41.3%,had no children

2. How are same-sex couples represented in those figures?

1.7% of all couple families were same-sex, an increase from 2011 (1.5%).

Of those same-sex families:

• 52.6% were male
• 47.4% were female.

Of the same-sex families with children:

• 23.9% were female couples
• 6.5% were male couples

In comparison, 39.7% of all opposite sex couple families had children.

3. How many lone parents were there?

Of the 16.9 million families in England and Wales in 2021, 18.7% were lone parents. This amounts to over 3.1m family units.

• 85.9% were female
• 14.1% were male

There was an increase of over 25% in lone parent families with non-dependent children.

A higher proportion of lone parents were aged 50 years and over in 2021 (41.8%) than the decade before (33.4%).

Conversely, there were fewer lone parents aged 24 years and under in 2021 (3.6%), compared with 2011 (7.5%).

4. How do children spend time with their separated parents?

It is not possible to analyse this from the data, but it did give some insights into the living arrangements for children with separated parents.

• 50% lived within 5km of their second parent or guardian’s address
• 77.7% lived within 15km
• 22.3% lived further away

Conclusions

The ONS census data provides valuable insights into the changing dynamics of families in the United Kingdom.

While the overall number of lone parent families has increased, there are notable differences between genders and the presence of dependent or non-dependent children.

Relationship breakdown in later life

The rising number of lone parent families with non-dependent children highlights an increase in family breakdown in later years. Divorce statistics from ONS show that divorce is most prevalent in the age bracket 45–49, and there is a rise in the number of divorces for those married over 30 years.

The logistics of child arrangements

With almost a quarter of children living more than 15km away from their other parent after relationship breakdown, many families have to negotiate difficult issues such as transport time and costs, education and recreational activities, sometimes with the other parent living overseas, in order to facilitate their child’s relationship with both parents.

As these trends continue to evolve, it is crucial for policymakers, community organisations, and society at large to adapt and provide the necessary support to families with a significant strand of that support being provided by professionals, from solicitors and mediators to therapists and counsellors.