The phrase "cohabiting couples" refers to unmarried partners who live together as if they were married or in a long-term committed relationship. Full definition
According to Child Trends, the number of cohabiting couples with children under 18 has nearly tripled since the late 1990s — increasing from 1.2 million in 1996 to 3.1 million in 2014. (ifstudies.org)
There is a redress scheme for cohabiting couples who have been in a long - term relationship or who have had children. (citizensinformation.ie)
The academics took their information from the 2001 and 2011 census, which showed that there had been a 34 % increase in the number of cohabiting couples who have dependent children between those dates. (pannone.com)