According to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics, the number of unwed mothers has increased significantly in the US, particularly because many women in the 20s to 30s age-group are having children without getting married.

The report reveals that over 1.7 million babies were born out of the wedlock in 2007. The figures indicate a more-than-two-times increase in the number of babies born to unwed mothers in 1980, and a nearly 26 percent increase from the numbers in 2002.

As such, the rate of unmarried women having babies has increased by 21 percent - to 52.9 per 1,000 women from the 2002 figures of 43.7 per 1,000 women. Overall, the unwed women accounted for 39.7 percent of all babies born in the US in 2007, as against 34 percent in 2002. This implies that almost four out of every ten babies are born to unwed mothers.

Experts led by Stephanie Ventura opine that factors that have led to the increase in number of unwed mothers include greater social acceptance of having children born out of the wedlock; long-term line-in relationships; and greater financial independence of women.

Commenting on the changed social scenario, Rosanna Hertz - Sociology professor at Wellesley College - said: "We've seen a transformation of social norms. Women can have children on their own, and it's not going to destroy your employment and it's not going to mean that you'll be made a pariah by the community!"

(Via TopNews United States. Contributed by Medha Sood)