Waiting game: Women in the U.S. are waiting until they are older to have a baby – but they are not waiting to get married The number of children born outside marriage in the United States has increased dramatically to four out of ten of all births. Figures show that 41 per cent of children born in 2008 did not have married parents – up from 28 per cent in 1990. Researchers have concluded that although Christian values still play an important role in American society, public attitudes have changed. Having a child out of wedlock does not carry the stigma and shame it once did, they say. The study also found that in America there is a declining number of teenage mothers and rising numbers of older parents. By comparison, Britain has the worst teenage pregnancy rate in Europe with 45 per cent of children born outside of wedlock in 2008. When Labour came to power in 1997, 36 per cent of children were born outside marriage. The U.S. research, taken from census reports and health statistics by the Pew Research Centre, also outlines a trend of couples in western societies […]