# Cohabiting Couple Stats The 'It Doesn't Mean A Thing Without A Ring' Chart Talks Marriage Survival By Vivian Lau | Published 2012-07-16 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/without-a-ring References: [visual.ly](http://visual.ly/it-dont-mean-thing-without-ring) & [visual.ly](http://visual.ly/) The 'It Doesn't Mean A Thing Without A Ring' charts gives you the dirty details about moving in with your beau, and what it means for your future together. These eye-opening stats do not mean to scare you away from sharing a place together, but it cites that couples living together before engagement have a 10 percent lower chance of their marriage surviving than the couples who did not live together before engagement. According to this, the future of America seems doomed, as there are approximately 7 million more couples living together now, compared to 20 years ago. By examining the different sentiments with which men and women approach a cohabiting situation (guys see it as more of a test-drive while ladies see it as [one step closer to marriage](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tracks-relationship)), we can gain a clearer understanding of what living together means for your present and future. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.4/10 - Popularity: 20% | Activity: 14% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Weddings](https://www.trendhunter.com/weddings) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Risks of Cohabitation Before Engagement:** Couples who live together before engagement have a 10 percent lower chance of their marriage surviving than those who did not. - **Changing Attitudes Towards Cohabitation:** Men see cohabitation as a test-drive while women view it as a step closer to marriage. - **Increasing Number of Cohabiting Couples:** There are approximately 7 million more couples living together now, compared to 20 years ago. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Relationship Counseling:** Opportunities for relationship counselors to offer guidance and support for cohabiting couples. - **Wedding Industry:** Wedding planners and other businesses that cater to marriages can offer pre-marital counseling services. - **Real Estate:** Demand for housing and rental properties for cohabiting couples may present a disruptive innovation opportunity for the real estate industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Coffin-Shaped Engagement Rings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coffin-shaped-engagement-rings.md) - [Match Likelihood Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/partner-probability-calculator.md) - [Equitable Chore Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pairwork.md) - [Separable Home Furnishings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/friendly-break-up-collection.md) - [No-Internet Couples Challenges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kahluastiritupchallenge.md) - [Intimate Couple Commitment Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-love-monitor.md) - [Modern Living Reports](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/future-of-living.md) - [Couples Engagement Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lovon.md) - [Relationship Conversation Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/love-talk-cards.md)