A demographic and socio-economic portrait of cohabitation in Botswana

This study examines the general patterns of cohabitation in Botswana. Using published data from the past two population censuses, the study begins by presenting estimates of the prevalence and the age-sex patterns of this lifestyle. A 200 I national sample survey is then used to examine the demographic and socio-economic profiles of cohabitants relative to married people at the time of the survey. Finally a logistic regression model is used to assess which factors are significantly associated with being in a cohabiting union as opposed to a legal marriage. The results reveal an increasing trend in the prevalence cohabitation and show that. contrary to observations made in many sub-Saharan African countries where cohabitants are often economically independent, cohabitation in Botswana is associated with low socioeconomic status.