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  • Title: [Demographic implications of increasing unmarried cohabitation in Western countries].
    Author: Kojima H.
    Journal: Jinko Mondai Kenkyu; 1983 Apr; (166):52-7. PubMed ID: 12155002.
    Abstract:
    Unmarried cohabitation in 8 western countries and its demographic implications, particularly with respect to marriage and fertility, were studied. Data were collected by Western demographic scholars, statisticians, and sociologists who, for research purposes, surveyed male and female unmarried cohabitants from 1975-1979 in the following 8 Western countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France, England, West Germany, and the US. Subjects were divided according to nationality and age, with 6 4-year age groups ranging from ages 18-44. Unmarried cohabitation rates were highest in the 20-24 year age group, and there were significant differences in these rates among the various countries involved. For instance, the unmarried cohabitation ratio in Denmark was 80%, while in France it was 22% and in England it was only 12%. In the 1976-1977 marriage cohort, West Germany's cohabitation ratio was 27%, whereas in the 1977-1978 cohort, this ratio increased by 35%. A general trend found in all 8 countries is that by their late 20s, most unmarried cohabitants apply for a marriage license and are legally married, thus decreasing the overall unmarried cohabitation ratio to 2-6% for the over 30 age groups. In both marriage and birth cohorts, the unmarried cohabitation ratio has been increasing in recent years. Statistics show that such increases in the cohabitation ratio cause proportionate increases in the average age at 1st marriage. The increased cohabitation ratio also has a direct influence upon fertility rates, the latter showing a decline among married couples and unmarried cohabitants. Some demographic scholars in northern European countries predict that unmarried cohabitation ratios have already reached their peaks in places such as Sweden and Denmark, whereas in other nations, they may continue to increase. However, unmarried cohabitation will probably remain only a temporary status which will ultimately result in legalized marriage.
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