More Children Born To Unmarried Parents

Answer 1

According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), there has been a steady increase in firstborns to cohabitating parents, as well as increases in firstborns to unmarried women overall in recent years.

The NCHS collected data from interviews of 12,279 women and 10,403 men, ages 15 to 44, which were conducted between 2006 and 2010.

The number of firstborns to women cohabitating with a male partner increased from 12% in 2002 to 22% in 2006 to 2010.

The number of firstborns to unmarried women overall increased from 38% in 2002 to 46% in 2006 to 2010.

Some analysts believe the increase was due to the recession, which forced couples to deal with pregnancy whether they were economically prepared or not. Others believe having children outside of marriage has simply become more acceptable in society.