In the past 10 years, the share of U.S. adults living without a spouse or partner has climbed to 42%, up from 39% in 2007, when the Census Bureau began collecting detailed data on cohabitation.<\/p>\n
Two important demographic trends have influenced this phenomenon. The share of adults who are\u00a0married has fallen<\/a>, while the share\u00a0living with a romantic partner<\/a>\u00a0has grown. However, the increase in cohabitation has not been large enough to offset the decline in marriage, giving way to the rise in the number of \u201cunpartnered\u201d Americans.<\/p>\n The share of adults who are unpartnered has increased across the young and middle-aged, but the rise has been most pronounced among young adults. Roughly six-in-ten adults younger than 35 (61%) are now living without a spouse or partner, up from 56% just 10 years ago.<\/p>\n The rise in adults living without a spouse or partner has also occurred against the backdrop of a third important demographic shift: the aging of American adults. Older adults (55 and older) are more likely to have a spouse or partner than younger adults. So it is surprising that the share of adults who are unpartnered has risen even though relatively more Americans are older.<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n 61% of U.S. adults younger than 35 are now living without a spouse or partner, up from 56% just 10 years ago https:\/\/t.co\/1L1ApLFypZ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2bDqELYgTu<\/a><\/p>\n — PewResearch FactTank (@FactTank) October 12, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n