VERIFIED BRIEFINGUPDATED JUL 21, 20264 MIN READBY POOL REPORT RESEARCH DESK

Cohabitation statistics in the United States

A denominator-first guide to ever-cohabited and currently cohabiting statistics in the United States.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Among adults ages 18–44, 59% had ever lived with an unmarried partner in Pew’s NSFG analysis; separately, 7% of all adults were currently cohabiting in the CPS measure.

59%: ages 18–44 had ever cohabited
50%: ages 18–44 had ever married
7%: of adults were currently cohabiting

Ever cohabited and currently cohabiting are different

The 59% estimate comes from adults ages 18–44 reporting whether they had ever lived with an unmarried partner. The 7% estimate refers to adults currently living with an unmarried partner.

A person who cohabited years ago and is now married belongs in the first measure but not the second. That is why the two figures are not contradictory.

Cohabitation became more common across cohorts

Pew reported that ever-cohabited among ages 18–44 rose from 54% in 2002 to 59% in the later NSFG analysis, while ever-married fell from 60% to 50%.

The source notes that the NSFG relationship history covers opposite-sex relationships for this analysis, a limitation that belongs beside the result.

Household status is not relationship intent

A cohabiting couple may plan to marry, prefer not to marry, be testing compatibility, sharing costs, or following another path. The status alone does not reveal the reason.

Likewise, not currently cohabiting does not mean a person is single, available, or living alone.

SOURCE RECEIPTS

Open the evidence.

These links go to the publisher—not a secondhand statistic roundup.

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Pew Research Center
The Landscape of Marriage and Cohabitation in the U.S.
Analysis combining the National Survey of Family Growth, Current Population Survey, and a nationally representative attitudes survey.
Open source ↗

COMMON FOLLOW-UPS

What percentage of Americans have cohabited?

Among adults ages 18–44, Pew reported 59% had ever lived with an unmarried partner in its analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth.

What percentage are currently cohabiting?

Pew reported 7% of U.S. adults were living with an unmarried partner in the Current Population Survey measure it cited.

Does cohabiting mean engaged?

No. Household relationship status does not identify whether a couple is engaged or plans to marry.