A recent report by Visual Capitalist shows that the number of children born outside marriage is rising in several regions, while some countries continue to report low rates. The analysis uses data from the OECD Family Database to rank countries by the share of children born outside marriage.
According to the findings, Latin America has the highest percentages, with Colombia leading at 87%, followed by Chile, Costa Rica, and Mexico—all above 70%. The report explains that cohabitation in the region has long been socially accepted and legally recognized. Historical inequality and limited access to legal institutions have also influenced these patterns.
Nordic countries also record high shares of births outside marriage. Iceland has 69%, Norway 61%, Sweden 58%, and Denmark 55%. “Cohabiting couples often enjoy rights similar to married ones, making marriage a personal choice rather than an economic necessity,” the report notes.
In contrast, parts of East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean continue to maintain low rates. Japan reports 2.4%, Korea 4.7%, Türkiye 3.1%, Israel 8.6%, and Greece 9.7%. Cultural expectations, religious traditions, and limited support for single parents make marriage closely linked to childbearing in these countries.
Countries in Anglo and Western Europe, including the United States and the United Kingdom, fall in the middle, with about 40% of children in the U.S. born outside marriage. Experts say the shift reflects changing social norms around family formation globally.
