Family and marriage in modern Britain

In modern Western countries, a deep transformation of the social sphere is taking place, one of the key directions of which is the change in the family and marriage. The article analyzes the main trends and factors that define the development of family and marital relationships in contemporary Britain. Based on a significant corpus of statistical data, a comprehensive analysis of the dynamics of marriages and divorces, household structures, and the composition and number of families is conducted. Special attention is given to the rising popularity of civil partnerships as an alternative to traditional marriage, as well as the spread of infantilism among British youth. The author notes the increasing burden on the social sector related to caring for the elderly and the weakening of traditional family ties, reflecting the general processes of social modernization. The methodological basis of the research relies on statistical and comparative methods of analysis, which made it possible to identify trends in key social changes. The results of the research show that strong monogamous marriage in the UK is gradually losing its significance. It is being replaced by civil partnerships, cohabitation, unregistered living together, and single living. For young Britons, the establishment of a complete multi-child family is becoming a rare phenomenon, while many prefer to remain dependent on their parents. The decline in registered marriages is accompanied by an increase in divorces, a decrease in birth rates, and a reduction in the average number of family members. At the same time, among ethnic and religious minorities, primarily immigrants from South Asia and Africa, traditions of strong marriage, large families, and caring for the elderly persist, significantly influencing overall demographic processes.

family, marriage, civil partnership, United Kingdom, demography, fertility, divorce, household, social change, infantilization