𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Young men are now 26 times more likely to live with their mother than with a wife, according to a new analysis which warns of threats to health, happiness and Britain’s economic future. The country is in a “relationship recession”, according to new research by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).

The think tank warns that in less than two decades the number of young people living with their parents has risen by half – with men in their 20s “far more likely to be living at home than women of the same age”. It found that half a century ago most men were married by 25. But in modern Britain, by the time a man reaches this birthday milestone, he is now 26 times more likely to live with his mum than live with a wife.

The CSJ claims that a “lack of sex and lack of long-term relationships” has resulted in the UK fertility rate tumbling to a record low of 1.39 children per woman. The average age at which women become mothers has risen from 23 in the 1970s to 31 in 2025. The think tank found that in five decades the number of married people under 30 has crashed from 4.5million to around 790,000, despite an increase in the population.

Edward Davies, research director of the CSJ, said: “It is harder to meet someone, harder to find a long-term partner, and it is harder to move in with someone. Left unchecked, this will impact everything from individual health to happiness to the economic viability of the UK.

“These are problems that should worry all of us, as it is the country’s future that is being failed.”

The CSJ’s analysis of YouGov data found young couples now meet their partner “out and about” at a quarter of the rate of their grandparents’ generation – going down from one in five couples to one in 20. While in 2019 68% of 16 to 24-year-olds described themselves as “sexually active”, the CSJ says this has fallen to 44%.

A series of forthcoming reports will investigate the challenges to relationships in the modern world. These will cover the impact of pornography, online dating, male and female expectations of relationships, and opportunities for education and employment.

Researchers say the initial findings suggest “many young people are daunted by the world they are living in and finding it increasingly difficult to form stable, happy relationships”. It comes on the heels of CSJ research which found by age 15 half of children were “spending more time in their bedroom than they would like”. The share of people in the 20-34 age group staying in a parental home has jumped from 20% in 2008 to nearly 30% last year.

The CSJ points to findings showing 43% of 16-29-year-olds reported high levels of anxiety, stating: “Taking courage, making yourself vulnerable, and instigating a relationship is more difficult for young people who have these additional barriers. This is not meant as fearmongering nor moralising.

“It is a sober reflection of the state of the current relationship landscape for young adults. We do nobody any favours by sticking our head in the sand and pretending all is well – this is being felt by people and will have long-term impacts ranging from individual health and happiness to the future shape of our economy.”