The decline in marriage shown by the 2011 census is linked to the rise in individualistic thinking, according to Nick Spencer, research director at public theology think-tank Theos.
Mr Spencer was speaking to the Telegraph after the 2011 census revealed that the proportion of married people stood at 47%, compared to 51% in 2001.
The figures also showed 105,000 people reported that they were in a civil partnership in 2011, making up 0.2% of the population.
Attempting to explain the downward trend in rates of marriage, Mr Spencer said the drop was linked to changing attitudes towards the institution.
"We are more inclined to see it as a purely individualistic choice than say our grandparents would have done," he said.
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