Singletons are taking over

Britain is becoming a nation of Bridget Joneses, with twice as many single women as 20 years ago.

But while serial singleton Bridget, played by actress Renèe Zellweger in the hit comedy, is desperate to find Mr Right, today's women are increasingly turning up their noses at the idea of marriage.

According to the latest snapshot of British life by the Office for National Statistics, the number of couples tying the knot fell by 14 per cent between 1979 and last year.

Researchers questioned 4,000 women aged 18 to 49 and found 36 per cent were single compared with 18 per cent in 1979.

Only half were married - a 14 per cent fall from when the same question was asked in 1979.

The number of people of both sexes living alone has doubled - from 17 per cent of the total population in 1971 to 31 per cent last year.

At the same time, the average number of people per household has fallen from 2.91 to 2.33, the ONS report revealed.

Single parent families are also on the increase - from eight per cent of the 1971 total to 25 per cent last year.

Fewer married or cohabiting couples are starting families. The total with children fell from 92 per cent in 1971 to 75 per cent in 2001.

More than 21,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales were interviewed as part of the Living in Britain - 2001 General Household Survey.