The evolution of cohabitation in Britain, 1960-95

The recent rise in cohabitation in Britain is analysed using data from larg e-scale surveys. There are major inconsistencies between different sources, and retrospective estimates are higher than values reported at the time. R etrospective data show markedly smaller numbers of cohabitation events just before survey date. I discuss reasons for discrepancies and conclude that no 'objective' measure of cohabitation exists and that comparison of differ ent types of data requires care. I combine the data to produce a much large r data set than hitherto available. Although cohabitation prevalence increa sed substantially during the 1970s and 1980s, there was little change in su ch characteristics as duration of cohabitation, ages of those cohabiting, a nd whether it occurred before first marriage or ended in marriage or breakd own. However, since the late 1980s, the average length of cohabitation has increased markedly, which may indicate a qualitative change in the nature o f cohabitation in Britain.