Having a child outside of a relationship – the case of Sweden

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of childbearing outside of a relationship and to compare this group with couples having a child while living together. Using cross sectional data from the Swedish Total Population Register around 10 percent of all children are born to parents registered at different dwelling units and are assumed to be born to a single mother. Using a longitudinal approach we are able to study this group more in detail. In this study the couples having their first child in 2000 are followed from five years before the child is born to the end of 2010. We find that the share born outside of a relationship is probably smaller than previously assumed. In many cases the couple moves in together after the child is born and in some cases the couple separates before the child is born. Only 3 percent of all couples having their first child in 2000 are never found living together. Couples having a child without ever living together are on average younger than other couples and more often have a low level of education, but this group is far from homogenous.