Number of Unmarried Couples Sees Dramatic Rise, Report Says

More than 4 million American households are made up of unmarried couples, a dramatic increase since 1970, the Census Bureau is reporting.

In 1970, there was one unmarried couple for every 100 households of married couples. Now, the figure is eight for every 100 married couples, according to Terry A. Lugaila, the Census Bureau statistician who wrote the report, “Marital Status and Living Arrangements.” The report, to be released today, is based on 1997 figures. It does not include statistics for gay couples.

The figures reflect a broad social change: A practice that was rare and widely rejected as immoral not long ago has become common. Other research shows that half of women in their early 30s have lived with a man outside marriage.

The Census Bureau also states in the report that a substantial share of these unmarried couples, nearly 36%, have children younger than 15 living with them.

The much wider acceptance of unmarried couples sharing a home stems both from changing values and an economy that makes it harder for young people to support themselves alone.

The Census Bureau reported that the median age at first marriage for men is 26.8 and for women, 25. In 1970, the median age was 23.2 for men and 20.8 for women.