National Center for Family and Marriage Research Family Profiles
Document Type
Report
Abstract
As gray divorce has increased over the past few decades (Brown, Lin, & Julian, 2024), many older adults have chosen cohabitation over remarriage when repartnering (Brown et al., 2019). In 2000, fewer than 1 million older men and women cohabited (Brown, Lee, & Bulanda, 2006). By 2017, this number had grown to approximately 4 million (Stepler, 2017) and reached 4.6 million by 2022 (Julian & Brown, forthcoming). This rise in later-life cohabitation reflects a broad shift in relationship patterns, with cohabitation operating as an alternative to remarriage in later life (Brown & Wright, 2017). Using data from the 2023 American Community Survey, this Family Profile examines older adult couples, defined as those with at least one partner who is aged 50 or older. We provide estimates of cohabiting and married household heads, explore marital history, and assess educational homogamy among cohabiting and married couples. Additionally, we analyze average age differences between partners in these unions. This is an update of FP-22-16 (Julian, 2022).
Repository Citation
Julian, Christopher A., "FP-25-08 Older Adult Cohabiting and Married Couples" (2025). National Center for Family and Marriage Research Family Profiles. 365.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ncfmr_family_profiles/365
Publication Date
2025
Publisher
National Center for Family and Marriage Research
