First cohabiting relationships: recent trends in France

Abstract

The ÉPIC survey of individual and conjugal trajectories (Étude des parcours individuels et conjugaux, 2013-2014) confirms that many of the recent observed trends in conjugal behaviours are continuing, with some changes along the way. Fewer and fewer couples are opting for marriage, and age at marriage is still increasing. Age at first union is levelling off, however. While in the past, both members of a couple were already working when they moved in together, today, in one-quarter of cases, the man is working and woman is still a student. A quarter of first unions are with a partner who has already been in a cohabiting relationship.