The changing family

Rapid family change is occurring throughout the world, though trends differ greatly between subregions and countries. Families are generally becoming smaller, as fertility declines and nuclearization of family structure are more common. The transition to adulthood is being delayed. Delayed marriage, increasing cohabitation, and higher levels of partnership dissolution characterize many parts of the world. Fewer children are growing to adulthood living with the same two parents. Ageing of populations is a worldwide trend, and although the proportions of elderly living with a child or grandchild are much higher in Asia than in the West, in Asia as well they are tending to decline. One of the key issues for the future is the relative roles of family, community, and state in supporting the dependant elderly.