This graph shows the average size of households in China from 1990 to 2023. That year, statistically about 2.8 people were living in an average Chinese household. Average household size in China A household is commonly defined as one person living alone or a group of people living together and sharing certain living accommodations. The average number of people living in one household in China dropped from 3.96 in 1990 to 2.87 in 2011. Since 2010, the figure was relatively stable and ranged between 2.87 and 3.17 people per household. The average Chinese household still counts as rather large in comparison to other industrial countries. In 2023, an average American household consisted of only 2.51 people. Comparable figures have already been reached in the bigger cities and coastal areas of China, but in the rural provinces the household size is still much larger. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the household size in China was diametrically correlated to its income. Birth rates and household sizes The receding size of Chinese households may be linked to the controversial one-child policy introduced in 1979. The main aim of the policy was to control population growth. While the fertility rate in China had been very high until the 1970s, it fell considerably in the following decades and resided at only 1.7 children per woman in 2018, nearly the same as in the United States or in the United Kingdom. A partial ease in the one-child policy was introduced in 2013, due to which couples where at least one parent was an only child were allowed to have a second child. In October 2015, the law was changed into a two-child policy becoming effective in January 2016.

Key information about China Household Debt: % of GDP

• China household debt accounted for 63.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Mar 2023, compared with the ratio of 61.9 % in the previous quarter.
• China household debt to GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2007 to Mar 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 63.3 % in Mar 2023 and a record low of 17.9 % in Dec 2008.

CEIC calculates quarterly Household Debt as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Household Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. The People's Bank of China provides Household Debt in local currency. The National Bureau of Statistics provides year-to-date Nominal GDP in local currency. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics.


Related information about China Household Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, China Household Debt reached 10,834.1 USD bn in Jun 2023.
• Money Supply M2 in China increased 11.6 % YoY in May 2023.
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,193.0 USD bn in Jun 2023.
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 14.9 Months of Import in Jun 2023.
• China Domestic Credit reached 43,669.0 USD bn in Jun 2023, representing an increased of 10.8 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.6 % in Mar 2023, compared with the ratio of 1.6 % in the previous quarter.

Households Debt in China decreased to 60 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 60.10 percent of GDP in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - China Households Debt To Gdp- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the number of people per household across different regions in China varied between around 2.3 in Heilongjiang province and 3.5 in Tibet. The national average was 2.8 people per household in 2023. The relation between household sizes, birth rates, and income In general, data on average household sizes as well as household income are often derived from the same national household survey. Therefore, average household sizes can be used to calculate per capita income from household income and vice versa. In many regions of China, a larger average household size correlates with lower income. At the same time, a strong positive correlation between household size and birth rate exists, which is in itself not surprising. Different household sizes across China In China, the largest average household sizes were recorded in the western part of the country, where birth rates are high. Lower medium figures prevailed in the prosperous coastal regions, while the lowest figures were recorded in the large municipalities and in Northeast China. The northeastern provinces, which are still dominated by their heavy industries, suffer from bad economic perspectives and population decline, which results in their smaller household sizes.

In 2024, the average annual per capita disposable income of households in China amounted to approximately 41,300 yuan. Annual per capita income in Chinese saw a significant rise over the last decades and is still rising at a high pace. During the last ten years, per capita disposable income roughly doubled in China. Income distribution in China As an emerging economy, China faces a large number of development challenges, one of the most pressing issues being income inequality. The income gap between rural and urban areas has been stirring social unrest in China and poses a serious threat to the dogma of a “harmonious society” proclaimed by the communist party. In contrast to the disposable income of urban households, which reached around 54,200 yuan in 2024, that of rural households only amounted to around 23,100 yuan. Coinciding with the urban-rural income gap, income disparities between coastal and western regions in China have become apparent. As of 2023, households in Shanghai and Beijing displayed the highest average annual income of around 84,800 and 81,900 yuan respectively, followed by Zhejiang province with 63,800 yuan. Gansu, a province located in the West of China, had the lowest average annual per capita household income in China with merely 25,000 yuan. Income inequality in China The Gini coefficient is the most commonly used measure of income inequality. For China, the official Gini coefficient also indicates the astonishing inequality of income distribution in the country. Although the Gini coefficient has dropped from its high in 2008 at 49.1 points, it still ranged at a score of 46.5 points in 2023. The United Nations have set an index value of 40 as a warning level for serious inequality in a society.

Key information about China Household Debt

• China Household Debt reached 11,498.4 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with the reported number of 11,347.6 USD bn in the previous month
• China Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2007 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 11,691.0 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 517.7 USD bn in Jan 2007

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. The People's Bank of China provides Household Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics.


Further information about China Household Debt

• In the latest reports, China Household Debt accounted for 63.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Mar 2023
• Money Supply M2 in China increased 44,045.8 USD bn YoY in Sep 2024
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,209.0 USD bn in Jan 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 13.9 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• China Domestic Credit reached 49,338.1 USD bn in Jan 2025, representing an increased of 7.9 % YoY

In 2019, household consumption of electricity per capita in China stood at about 756 kilowatt hours. This was a more than six-fold increase in the per capita household electricity consumption compared to 2000.

Households Debt in China increased to 99.90 % of gross income in 2018 from 93.40 % in 2017. This dataset provides - China Households Debt To Income- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

China Population: Average Household Size data was reported at 2.800 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.760 Person for 2022. China Population: Average Household Size data is updated yearly, averaging 3.150 Person from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.430 Person in 1982 and a record low of 2.620 Person in 2020. China Population: Average Household Size data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: No of Person per Household.

Household debt to GDP, in percent in China, December, 2024 The most recent value is 60 percent as of December 2024, a decline compared to the previous value of 60.1 percent. Historically, the average for China from March 2006 to December 2024 is 39.14 percent. The minimum of 10.7 percent was recorded in June 2006, while the maximum of 60.9 percent was reached in March 2024. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

Graph and download economic data for Total Credit to Households and Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households, Adjusted for Breaks, for China (CRDQCNAHABIS) from Q1 2006 to Q4 2024 about nonprofit organizations, adjusted, credits, China, and households.

Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) in China was reported at 6962835998551 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Household final consumption expenditure - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2023, households with only one or two persons accounted for more than 60 percent of all households in urban areas of Beijing municipality in China. The average household size in urban Beijing has been roughly stable at around 2.4 people per household over the last decade.

China Population: Number of Household: Total data was reported at 496,814.462 Unit th in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 502,094.819 Unit th for 2022. China Population: Number of Household: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 403,798.500 Unit th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 522,689.264 Unit th in 2020 and a record low of 329.088 Unit th in 1994. China Population: Number of Household: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: No of Household.

Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure, PPP (current international $) in China was reported at 14040070201223 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Household final consumption expenditure, PPP (current international $) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2017, food accounted for around a quarter of the urban household annual expenditure in China. According to McKinsey data analysis, urban Chinese consumers have been increasing their expenditure share on products and services other than food, especially on housing/utilities and transportation and communication services or goods.

Household Saving Rate in China decreased to 36.10 percent in 2016 from 37.10 percent in 2015. This dataset provides - China Deposits Interest Rates - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents median household incomes for various household sizes in China, Maine, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The dataset highlights the variation in median household income with the size of the family unit, offering valuable insights into economic trends and disparities within different household sizes, aiding in data analysis and decision-making.

Key observations

• Of the 7 household sizes (1 person to 7-or-more person households) reported by the census bureau, China town did not include 6, or 7-person households. Across the different household sizes in China town the mean income is $96,500, and the standard deviation is $16,933. The coefficient of variation (CV) is 17.55%. This high CV indicates high relative variability, suggesting that the incomes vary significantly across different sizes of households.
• In the most recent year, 2021, The smallest household size for which the bureau reported a median household income was 1-person households, with an income of $81,583. It then further increased to $117,098 for 5-person households, the largest household size for which the bureau reported a median household income.

https://i.neilsberg.com/ch/china-me-median-household-income-by-household-size.jpeg" alt="China, Maine median household income, by household size (in 2022 inflation-adjusted dollars)">

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Household Sizes:

• 1-person households
• 2-person households
• 3-person households
• 4-person households
• 5-person households
• 6-person households
• 7-or-more-person households

Variables / Data Columns

• Household Size: This column showcases 7 household sizes ranging from 1-person households to 7-or-more-person households (As mentioned above).
• Median Household Income: Median household income, in 2022 inflation-adjusted dollars for the specific household size.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for China town median household income. You can refer the same here

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

households/individuals

Kind of data

survey

Frequency of data collection

Yearly

Sampling procedure

Sample size:

Key information about China Household Expenditure per Capita

• China Annual Household Expenditure per Capita reached 4,802.362 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the last update number of 4,660.367 USD in Dec 2023.
• China Annual Household Expenditure per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1957 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 607.205 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 4,802.362 USD in Dec 2024 and a record low of 89.641 USD in Dec 1964.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of China grew 12.700 % YoY in May 2023.

CEIC converts Annual Household Expenditure per Capita into USD. The National Bureau of Statistics provides Household Expenditure per Capita in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Household Expenditure covers Consumption Expenditure and for urban area only.