A recent report has highlighted a multitude of changes to Scotland’s households and families over a 10-year period, but notes that some aspects of family life have remained similar.
The report, which was commissioned by Parenting across Scotland, revealed that:
- There were 2.4 million households in Scotland in 2011, an increase of 0.2 million since 2001, with an increase in the number of people living alone meaning it became the most common type of household in 2011.
- Marriage or civil partnered households decreased from 38% in 2001 to 32% in 2011, while there was a growth in the number of co-habiting couples from 7% to 9%.
- Divorce rates were lower by 7% over the ten year period 2001 – 2011.
- There was a notable increase in the number of births registered to unmarried parents - 51% in 2011 compared to 43% in 2001.
- There has been an increase of 49% in the number of looked after children over 2001 - 2011, while the number of children in kinship care in 2011 was nearly four times that in 2001.
Parenting across Scotland has urged governments, policy makers, decision makers and anyone designing and delivering services in Scotland, to ensure they use the report to best meet families’ needs, particularly where local specific information is available.
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