One in four women earns more than her husband or partner

The number of "breadwinning wives" is on the rise, with 2.7 million women now earning more than their husbands or boyfriends.

New analysis of official figures shows that there has been a fivefold increase in the number of women who earn more than their partners over the last generation, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Out of all the couples in Britain where one half earns more than the other, it was the woman who was the main breadwinner in 25% of cases during 2006-7.

This is a substantial increase on the 5% recorded back in 1968-9, when just half a million women brought home more money than their husbands or boyfriends.

Of all the couples in the UK, a woman earns the same as or more than her partner in 44% of cases - compared with 18% in 1968.

The analysis was carried out by Liam Wren-Lewis, a PhD student at Oxford University, as part of an in-depth report into inequality, commissioned by the government.