Cohabitation in America: More Common Than Marriage for Young Adults
In short
Cohabitation is now a more common experience than marriage among younger adults. Pew reported in 2019 that 59% of Americans aged 18 to 44 had lived with an unmarried partner, while 50% had ever married. People also marry later: the Census Bureau put the median age at first marriage at 30.2 for men and 28.6 for women in 2024.
What the full article will cover
- How many Americans have lived with a partner?
- Why are couples cohabiting more?
- How do Americans view living together?
- Does cohabitation lead to marriage?
- How do cohabiting and married couples compare?
Frequently asked questions
- Is cohabitation more common than marriage?
- Do couples who live together first divorce more?
- Do cohabiting couples have legal rights?
Sources
- pewresearch.org — https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2019/11/06/marriage-and-cohabitation-in-the-u-s/
- pewresearch.org — https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/11/06/key-findings-on-marriage-and-cohabitation-in-the-u-s/
- census.gov — https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/families-and-living-arrangements.html
General information, not legal or religious advice.