New figures on cohabiting couples are adding fresh pressure for cohabitation reform in England and Wales. The latest figures show that in 2024, 60.5% of people aged 16 and over in England and Wales lived with a partner. That includes people who are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting.

Marriage and civil partnership are still the most common status. However, their share has dropped from 51.5% in 2014 to 49.5% in 2024.

Cohabitation has grown instead. One million more people now live with a partner without marrying than in 2014. Cohabitants now make up 12.9% of the population, up from 11.9%. Over a third of cohabitees, 36.8%, have never married or entered a civil partnership.

Cohabiting couple families are now the fastest-growing family type. Everyday relationships have changed, but the law has stayed the same. When a cohabiting relationship ends, there is still no automatic family law protection. A partner with lower income, fewer assets or most of the caring work can be left in real difficulty.

These trends strengthen the case for cohabitation reform in England and Wales. Campaigners say the system must catch up. The Government has promised to consult on the law on cohabitants by the end of 2025, but has not yet set a date.