Over the last thirty years, the family as a social unit has undergone some major changes: people are getting married later, the number of divorces and separations is rising, and more people are deciding to remain single. Alternatives to marriage are becoming increasingly common, most often where two partners live together. Opinions are divided about whether it would be better if such relationships were formalised: respondents divided almost equally into those for whom it does not matter if people are married or not, so long as they love and trust each other (42%), and those who think that people living together ought to get married, though marriage should not be compulsory (38%). Every seventh respondent (14%) categorically believes that people living together ought to get married. Only a few (3%) voiced the opposite opinion, that even if people loved and trusted each other it was better not to get married, since there was no knowing what might happen in the future. Looking back, it can be seen that there is a continuing rise in the number of people who accept living together and marriage as equally valid options for a relationship.
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