The Resolution Foundation has suggested that 2026 might be the yr during which a “latest era” of deaths outnumbering births becomes the norm.
The Coalition for Marriage warned in response that Britain is facing a “demographic time bomb” that may only be defused by a return to the “gold standard” of traditional marriage.
The Resolution Foundation noted that Britain had already seen years during which deaths overtook births, notably in 2020 during Covid and in addition in 2023. In 2024 births were higher by a small margin, and figures for 2025 are expected to indicate a narrowing of that margin.
However, in 2026 deaths are prone to overtake births and the margin between them is prone to grow.
“These outturns suggest that 2026 could be the first yr in a latest era when deaths exceed births by an ever-widening margin, ceaselessly closing a chapter within the demographics of this country that opened over a century ago”, the Foundation said.
The Coalition for Marriage called this a “demographic line-crossing” and identified Office for National Statistics data which suggested falling fertility rates and lower well-being for individuals who are separated compared with those that are married. The group also cited studies which suggest that married women are inclined to have their first baby before those that merely cohabit.
The economic and political consequences of falling marriage and birth rates were raised, with governments attempting to maintain their population numbers up via immigration, resulting in lost social cohesion and contentious political arguments.
“The current direction of travel is clear. Fewer marriages, fewer children, after which a everlasting argument over importing future generations. That just isn’t a plan. It is drift,” the Coalition for Marriage said.
“The positive alternative is achievable. Coalition for Marriage exists to champion the gold standard of 1 man, one woman marriage, calmly and publicly, and to rebuild confidence that forming a family is normal, good, and possible.”
 The Resolution Foundation has suggested that 2026 might be the yr during which a “latest era” of deaths outnumbering births becomes the norm....){kind=link}