In the near future, however, we might see less and less of these tweets since more U.S. adults are delaying marriage – or foregoing it altogether. Now, most Americans find cohabitation acceptable, even for couples who don't plan to get married, according to a Pew Research Center survey. But even so, most of them still think society is better off if couples in long-term relationships eventually get married.
The share of U.S. adults who are currently married has declined modestly in recent decades, from 58% in 1995 to 53%. Over the same period, the share of adults who are living with an unmarried partner has risen from 3% to 7%. While the second group remains far smaller if we compare the totals, the share of adults aged 18 to 44 who have ever lived with an unmarried partner (59%) has actually surpassed the share who has ever been married (50%).
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As you might've guessed, young adults are particularly accepting of cohabitation – 78% of those ages 18 to 29 say it's perfectly OK for an unmarried couple to live together, even if they don't plan to tie the knot.
Still, even among those younger than 30, a substantial share (45%) say society is better off if couples who want to stay together long-term eventually get married. Roughly half of those ages 30 to 49 believe this to be true, as do majorities of those ages 50 and older.
People's views about marriage and cohabitation are also linked to their religious beliefs. For example, three-quarters of Catholics (74%) and white Protestants who do not self-identify as born-again or evangelical (76%) say it's acceptable for an unmarried couple to live together. But only 47% of black Protestants and 35% of white evangelical Protestants share this view.
And while half or more across these groups believe society is better off if couples who want to stay together long-term eventually get married, white evangelicals are the most likely to say this (78%).
Among those who are not religiously affiliated, however, nine-in-ten say cohabitation is acceptable even if a couple doesn't plan to get married.
Both married and cohabiting adults cite love and companionship as major reasons why they decided to get together.
But about four-in-ten cohabiters also say finances and convenience were important factors in their decision. To be exact, 38% cite moving in with their partner made sense financially and 37% say it simply fit their life. In contrast, just 13% of married adults highlight finances and 10% point out convenience as major reasons why they made the commitment.
But it's also important to highlight that cohabitation is not necessarily replacing marriage. If anything, it's become sort of a testing ground, a way for people to make sure if they can live happily ever after.
66% of married adults who lived with their spouse before formalizing their union and were not yet engaged when they moved in together say they saw cohabitation as a step toward marriage when they first started living with their now-spouse.
Among cohabiting adults who were not engaged when they moved in with their partner, 44% say they saw living together as a step toward marriage.
