Voksenpar

Voksenpar is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to describe a household or relationship consisting of two adults. The word is neutral and descriptive, combining voksen (adult) and par (couple). It is not a legal status in itself but a sociological and demographic category.

In demographic and social research, voksenpar typically denotes a two-person household where the adults are in a romantic or intimate relationship and share a dwelling. The concept is used to distinguish such couples from single-person households and from families with children. Voksenpar can include both married and unmarried couples, as well as opposite-sex and same-sex partnerships.

Because it focuses on the composition of the household rather than legal bonds, the term is often applied in surveys, censuses, housing studies, and policy analyses to examine living arrangements, consumption, taxation, and welfare needs. Researchers may further differentiate by whether the couple has children, is childless, or includes other relatives in the household, but the core idea remains two adults in a cohabiting relationship.

In English-language contexts, equivalent terms such as “two-adult household” or “adult couple” are commonly used. The concept helps compare different household structures across time and regions, contributing to understandings of family life, housing demand, and social policy implications.

See also: household, family, cohabitation, marriage, demographic statistics.