In 2021, Slovakia had the highest average household size among EU member states, at 2.9 people per household. By contrast, Finland had the lowest average household size, at 1.9 people per household.

In 2022, the average number of people per household in the United Kingdom was 2.36 compared with 2.37 in 2020. In the mid-1990s the average household size was slightly larger at 2.42, before falling to a low of 2.36 in 2002, which with the exception of 2004, is where the average stayed until 2013 when it began to rise slightly.

In 2021, there were approximately 197.4 million households in the 27 member states that compose the European Union. Of these member states, Germany had the highest number of households at 41 million households, followed by France at 31 million.

There are estimated to be around 3.7 million one-child families in the United Kingdom as of 2023, with a further 3.38 million two-child families, and 1.18 million families that have three or more children.

Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates including measures of uncertainty of the number of households by household size, for England, Scotland and Wales, as well as the regions of England.

Dataset population: Households

Household composition

Household composition classifies households according to the relationships between the household members. Households consisting of one family and no other usual residents are classified according to the type of family (married, same-sex civil partnership or cohabiting couple family, or lone parent family) and the number of dependent children. Other households are classified by the number of people, the number of dependent children, or whether the household consists only of students or only of people aged 65 and over.

Number of bedrooms

The number of bedrooms in a household's accommodation.

A bedroom is defined as any room that was intended to be used as a bedroom when the property was built, or any room that has been permanently converted for use as a bedroom. It also includes all rooms intended for use as a bedroom even if not being used as a bedroom at the time of the census. Bedsits and studio flats are counted as having one bedroom.

The number of bedrooms is not available for household spaces with no usual residents.

The average household size in London was 2.57 people per household in 2023, compared with the UK average of 2.36 people per household.

Dataset population: Households

Ethnic group of HRP

Ethnic group classifies people according to their own perceived ethnic group and cultural background.

The concept of a Household Reference Person (HRP) was introduced in the 2001 Census (in common with other government surveys in 2001/2) to replace the traditional concept of the 'head of the household'. HRPs provide an individual person within a household to act as a reference point for producing further derived statistics and for characterising a whole household according to characteristics of the chosen reference person.

Household composition

Household composition classifies households according to the relationships between the household members. Households consisting of one family and no other usual residents are classified according to the type of family (married, same-sex civil partnership or cohabiting couple family, or lone parent family) and the number of dependent children. Other households are classified by the number of people, the number of dependent children, or whether the household consists only of students or only of people aged 65 and over.

Total number of young adults aged 15 to 34 years and total number of young adults aged 20 to 34 years in the UK living with their parents.

The General Household Survey (GHS) is a continuous national survey of people living in private households conducted on an annual basis, by the Social Survey Division of the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The main aim of the survey is to collect data on a range of core topics, covering household, family and individual information. This information is used by government departments and other organisations for planning, policy and monitoring purposes, and to present a picture of house holds, family and people in Great Britain. From 2008, the General Household Survey became a module of the Integrated Household Survey (IHS). In recognition, the survey was renamed the General Lifestyle Survey (GLF/GLS). The GHS started in 1971 and has been carried out continuously since then, except for breaks in 1997-1998 when the survey was reviewed, and 1999-2000 when the survey was redeveloped. Following the 1997 review, the survey was relaunched from April 2000 with a different design. The relevant development work and the changes made are fully described in the Living in Britain report for the 2000-2001 survey. Following its review, the GHS was changed to comprise two elements: the continuous survey and extra modules, or 'trailers'. The continuous survey remained unchanged from 2000 to 2004, apart from essential adjustments to take account of, for example, changes in benefits and pensions. The GHS retained its modular structure and this allowed a number of different trailers to be included for each of those years, to a plan agreed by sponsoring government departments. Further changes to the GHS methodology from 2005: From April 1994 to 2005, the GHS was conducted on a financial year basis, with fieldwork spread evenly from April of one year to March the following year. However, in 2005 the survey period reverted to a calendar year and the whole of the annual sample was surveyed in the nine months from April to December 2005. Future surveys will run from January to December each year, hence the title date change to single year from 2005 onwards. Since the 2005 GHS (held under SN 5640) does not cover the January-March quarter, this affects annual estimates for topics which are subject to seasonal variation. To rectify this, where the questions were the same in 2005 as in 2004-2005, the final quarter of the latter survey was added (weighted in the correct proportion) to the nine months of the 2005 survey. Furthermore, in 2005, the European Union (EU) made a legal obligation (EU-SILC) for member states to collect additional statistics on income and living conditions. In addition to this the EU-SILC data cover poverty and social exclusion. These statistics are used to help plan and monitor European social policy by comparing poverty indicators and changes over time across the EU. The EU-SILC requirement has been integrated into the GHS, leading to large-scale changes in the 2005 survey questionnaire. The trailers on 'Views of your Local Area' and 'Dental Health' have been removed. Other changes have been made to many of the standard questionnaire sections, details of which may be found in the GHS 2005 documentation. Further changes to the GLF/GHS methodology from 2008 As noted above, the General Household Survey (GHS) was renamed the General Lifestyle Survey (GLF/GLS) in 2008. The sample design of the GLF/GLS is the same as the GHS before, and the questionnaire remains largely the same. The main change is that the GLF now includes the IHS core questions, which are common to all of the separate modules that together comprise the IHS. Some of these core questions are simpl y questions that were previously asked in the same or a similar format on all of the IHS component surveys (including the GLF/GLS). The core questions cover employment, smoking prevalence, general health, ethnicity, citizenship and national identity. These questions are asked by proxy if an interview is not possible with the selected respondent (that is a member of the household can answer on behalf of other respondents in the household). This is a departure from the GHS which did not ask smoking prevalence and general health questions by proxy, whereas the GLF/GLS does from 2008. For details on other changes to the GLF/GLS questionnaire, please see the GLF/GLS 2008: Special Licence Access documentation held with SN 6414. Currently, the UK Data Archive holds only the SL (and not the EUL) version of the GLF/GLS for 2008. Changes to the drinking section There have been a number of revisions to the methodology that is used to produce the alcohol consumption estimates. In 2006, the average number of units assigned to the different drink types and the assumption around the average size of a wine glass was updated, resulting in significantly increased consumption estimates. In addition to the revised method, a new question about wine glass size was included in the survey in 2008. Respondents were asked whether they have consumed small (125 ml), standard (175 ml) or large (250 ml) glasses of wine. The data from this question are used when calculating the number of units of alcohol consumed by the respondent. It is assumed that a small glass contains 1.5 units, a standard glass contains 2 units and a large glass contains 3 units. (In 2006 and 2007 it was assumed that all respondents drank from a standard 175 ml glass containing 2 units.) The datasets contain the original set of variables based on the original methodology, as well as those based on the revised and (for 2008 onwards) updated methodologies. Further details on these changes are provided in the Guidelines documents held in SN 5804 - GHS 2006; and SN 6414 - GLF/GLS 2008: Special Licence Access. Special Licence GHS/GLF/GLS Special Licence (SL) versions of the GHS/GLF/GLS are available from 1998-1999 onwards. The SL versions include all variables held in the standard 'End User Licence' (EUL) version, plus extra variables covering cigarette codes and descriptions, and some birthdate information for respondents and household members. Prospective SL users will need to complete an extra application form and demonstrate to the data owners exactly why they need access to t he extra variables, in order to get permission to use the SL version. Therefore, most users should order the EUL version of the data. In order to help users choose the correct dataset, 'Special Licence Access' has been added to the dataset titles for the SL versions of the data. A list of all GHS/GLF/GLS studies available from the UK Data Archive may be found on the GHS/GLF/GLS major studies web page. See below for details of SL datasets for the corresponding GHS/GLF/GLS year (1998-1999 onwards only). UK Data Archive data holdings and formats The UK Data Archive GHS/GLF/GLS holdings begin with the 1971 study for EUL data, and from 1998-1999 for SL versions (see above). Users should note that data for the 1971 study are currently only available as ASCII files without accompanying SPSS set-up files. SPSS files for the 1972 study were created by John Simister, and redeposited at the Archive in 2000. Currently, the UK Data Archive holds only the SL versions of the GHS/GLF/GLS for 2007 and 2008. Reformatted Data 1973 to 1982 - Surrey SPSS Files SPSS files have been created by the University of Surrey for all study years from 1973 to 1982 inclusive. These early files were restructured and the case changed from the household to the individual with all of the household information duplicated for each individual. The Surrey SPSS files contain all the original variabl es as well as some extra derived variables (a few variables were omitted from the data files for 1973-76). In 1973 only, the section on leisure was not included in the Surrey SPSS files. This has subsequently been made available, however, and is now held in a separate study, General Household Survey, 1973: Leisure Questions (held under SN 3982). Records for the original GHS 1973-1982 ASCII files have been removed from the UK Data Archive catalogue, but the data are still preserved and available upon request. Users should note that GHS/GLF/GLS data are also available in formats other than SPSS.

In March 2024, the Labour Party was seen by approximately 45 percent of people in Great Britain as being either very close or fairly close to families, compared with 24 percent of people who thought the same of the Conservative Party.

Employment rate of parents living with dependent children as a couple or lone parent by age of the youngest child in the UK.

This report presents findings from the third (wave 3) in a series of follow up reports to the 2017 Mental Health of Children and Young People (MHCYP) survey, conducted in 2022. The sample includes 2,866 of the children and young people who took part in the MHCYP 2017 survey. The mental health of children and young people aged 7 to 24 years living in England in 2022 is examined, as well as their household circumstances, and their experiences of education, employment and services and of life in their families and communities. Comparisons are made with 2017, 2020 (wave 1) and 2021 (wave 2), where possible, to monitor changes over time.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usually resident dependent children in England and Wales by ethnic group of Household Reference Person and by age. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Coverage

Census 2021 statistics are published for the whole of England and Wales. Data are also available in these geographic types:

• country - for example, Wales
• region - for example, London
• local authority - for example, Cornwall
• health area – for example, Clinical Commissioning Group
• statistical area - for example, MSOA or LSOA

Dependent child age

Counts dependent children and gives an age classification.

"Not applicable" applies to non-dependent children and adults.

Ethnic group of the Household Reference Person

Ethnic group of the Household Reference Person

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The UK censuses took place on 29th April 2001. They were run by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA), General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for both England and Wales. The UK comprises the countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Statistics from the UK censuses help paint a picture of the nation and how we live. They provide a detailed snapshot of the population and its characteristics, and underpin funding allocation to provide public services.

The aggregate statistics produced as outputs from UK censuses provide information on a wide range of demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population of the United Kingdom. They are predominantly a collection of aggregated, or summary counts of the numbers of people, families or households resident in specific geographical areas or ‘zones’ possessing particular characteristics, or combinations of characteristics drawn from the themes of population, people and places, families, ethnicity and religion, health, work, and housing.

Aggregate statistics are available for the full range of geographies employed within the census, from the smallest (output areas with an average of 150 persons in England and Wales), to national level. For further information about the geographies used in the output of census aggregate statistics, see the section on census geography in the Office for National Statistics’ Beginner’s Guide to UK Geography.

Data can be accessed through InFuse.

Citation
Through InFuse:
Office for National Statistics (2011): 2001 Census aggregate data (Edition: May 2011). UK Data Service. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5257/census/aggregate-2001-2

Through Casweb:
Office for National Statistics; General Register Office for Scotland; Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (2005): 2001 Census aggregate data (Edition: 2005). UK Data Service. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5257/census/aggregate-2001-1

Main Topics:
Accommodation type (brief)Accommodation type (detailed)
Adults, Number Employed in Household
Adults, Number in Household
Age
Age of Family Reference Person (FRP)
Age of Household Reference Person (HRP)
Age of Students and Schoolchildren
Amenities
Armed Forces
Bath/Shower and Toilet, use of
Care (unpaid), Provision of
Care, Provision of
Carers and their Economic Activity, Number of
Cars and vans
Central heating
Children
Children, dependent
Communal Establishment Residents
Communal establishment, combined type and management
Concealed families
Country of birth
Country of Birth (additional categories)
Daytime Population
Dwelling Type
Economic Activity
Economic Activity of Associated People Resident in Households
Economic Activity of Full-time students
Economic Activity of Household Reference Person (HRP)
Ethnic group (England and Wales)
Ethnic group (England and Wales) of Household Reference Person
Family composition
Family status
Family type
Health, General
Hours worked
Household composition
Household composition (alternative classification)
Household dependent children
Household deprivation
Household Reference Person indicator
Household size
Household Space Type
Household Type
Households with students away during term-time
Industry
Industry, former
Limiting long-term illness
Limiting Long-Term Illness (LLTI), Household residents with
Limiting long-Term Illness, number of people with in household
Living arrangements
Living arrangements of Household Reference Person (HRP)
Lowest floor level
Marital status
Migration (armed forces)
Migration (Communal establishment)
Migration (People)
Multiple ethnic identifier
Occupancy Rating
Occupation (brief)
Occupation (detailed)
Occupation, former
Pensioner household
People aged 17 or over in household, Number of
Population Type
Public transport users in households
Qualifications (England and Wales)
Qualifications, highest level of (England and Wales)
Qualifications, professional
Religion (England and Wales)
Religion (England and Wales) of Household Reference Person
Resident Basis
Resident Type
Rooms in a dwelling, number of
Rooms, Number of
Rooms, Persons per
Sex
Sex of Household Reference Person (HRP)
Single Adult Households
Social Grade of Household Reference Person (HRP), approximated
Social Grade, approximated
Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC)
Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC) of Household Reference Person (HRP)Socio-economic Classification (NS-SeC) of Household Reference Person (HRP), Main categories of
Student accommodation (Standard Output)
Student...

In 2021 there were approximately 41 million households in Germany, 31 million households in France, and 25.8 million households in Italy, with these three countries having the highest number of households among EU countries.

Detailed breakdown of average weekly household expenditure on goods and services in the UK. Data are shown by place of purchase, income group (deciles) and age of household reference person.

Households among all the decile groups had an average of 0.4 to 0.6 children per household. Average children per household in the top decile group was 0.4. This was the lowest average for any decile group displaying the average number of children per household in the United Kingdom in 2019/20.