According to an analysis, low-income individuals are sorted out of marriages and cohabitation, worsening their financial situation. This occurs against a strong cultural norm of couple formation in Sweden, even though 31 percent of adults live alone. Author Petter Larsson highlights the need for support measures for singles.
In Sweden, 31 percent of people over 20 live alone, a figure that rose rapidly after the 1960s feminist changes and doubled within 30 years alongside increasing divorces. After 1990, the growth leveled off, but economic challenges persist for single dwellers. Low-income individuals face higher costs for housing, travel, and subscriptions; for instance, a hotel room costs 2,331 kronor for a couple (1,165 kronor per person) versus 2,150 kronor for a single. The difference can reach 3,000 kronor per month for rental apartments and over 5,000 kronor for cooperatives, per a note in Dagens Nyheter from March 24, 2024.
Single men form the largest group receiving social assistance, followed by single women and single mothers. By age 23, half of women have cohabited with someone, while men reach this at 25; by 35, over 90 percent of both genders have cohabited at some point. Historically, a portion of the population has always lived alone: in 1750, 18 percent of men and 28 percent of women aged 25 to 50 were unmarried or widowed.
Low-income men live alone in 37 percent of cases, compared to 11 percent for high-income men. Well-educated women are least likely to live alone, unlike low-income groups. Larsson argues that society is geared toward couples and suggests single discounts, rent deductions, and tax reliefs to counter the economic double penalty.
