Number of co-habiting UK couples to increase to 3.8 million by 2033

The Government should be "hugely concerned" about a projected rise in the number of couples living together out of wedlock, according to a charity in UK.

According to statistics, the number of co-habiting couples will jump 1.5 million to 3.8 million by 2033.

The data from the Office for National Statistics also predicts the proportion of married couples will fall to 42 per cent in 2033, down seven per cent on the latest statistics.

John Hayward, executive director at the Jubilee Centre, a leading social reform charity, said couples deciding not to marry would lead to more family break-ups.

In research conducted by the centre, those who decided to live together before getting married were 60 per cent more likely to split up.

He said: "Whether you look at it from a human perspective or just from the financial cost, the government needs to be hugely concerned about this.

"The reality is that co-habiting is not a stable form of relationship whereas marriage is much more stable. I suspect that part of it is that as a co-habiter you are not committing to someone from the start.

"Someone who makes that commitment to a relationship is going to have developed that maturity in other areas of their social life down the years.

"But it's an urban myth that you can try things out by living together because it leads to a lack of commitment and people just tend to walk away when things get tough." Church leaders have also voiced their concerns about the predicted trend.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church's Diocese of Westminster said: "Over the last few years there hasn't been much done to promote marriage. We hope in the next few years the government will make it easier for people to stay together."

A spokesman for the Church of England added that marriage was still the "bedrock of society".

He added: "Most people still expect to marry at some stage in their lives. The Church of England supports marriage and works to enhance the quality of people's marriages and family lives through marriage preparation, meaningful wedding ceremonies, parenting support and work with children in schools and the wider community."

Suzanne Kingston, head of the family department at London-based Dawsons LLP solicitors, said: "These statistics demonstrate the need for greater legal protection for co-habiting couples. There is already a growing consensus that the current regulations are outdated and out of touch.

"If less people are going to be getting married, then the law must also evolve and ensure that such couples are provided with the protection they need and deserve.

"There is a clear divide between married and unmarried couples on what rights they currently have should they separate. This needs to be overcome as a matter of urgency to reflect modern times."

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