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.

The purpose of this project was to measure and estimate the distribution of personal income and related economic factors in both rural and urban areas of the People's Republic of China. The principal investigators based their definition of income on cash payments and on a broad range of additional components. Data were collected through a series of questionnaire-based interviews conducted in rural and urban areas at the end of 2002. There are ten separate datasets. The first four datasets were derived from the urban questionnaire. The first contains data about individuals living in urban areas. The second contains data about urban households. The third contains individual-level economic variables copied from the initial urban interview form. The fourth contains household-level economic variables copied from the initial urban interview form. The fifth dataset contains village-level data, which was obtained by interviewing village leaders. The sixth contains data about individuals living in rural areas. The seventh contains data about rural households, as well as most of the data from a social network questionnaire which was presented to rural households. The eighth contains the rest of the data from the social network questionnaire and is specifically about the activities of rural school-age children. The ninth dataset contains data about individuals who have migrated from rural to urban areas, and the tenth dataset contains data about rural-urban migrant households. Dataset 1 contains 151 variables and 20,632 cases (individual urban household members). Dataset 2 contains 88 variables and 6,835 cases (urban households). Dataset 3 contains 44 variables and 27,818 cases, at least 6,835 of which are empty cases used to separate households in the file. The remaining cases from dataset 3 match those in dataset 1. Dataset 4 contains 212 variables and 6,835 cases, which match those in dataset 2. Dataset 5 contains 259 variables and 961 cases (villages). Dataset 6 contains 84 variables and 37,969 cases (individual rural household members). Dataset 7 contains 449 variables and 9,200 cases (rural households). Dataset 8 contains 38 variables and 8,121 cases (individual school-age children). Dataset 9 contains 76 variables and 5,327 cases (individual rural-urban migrant household members). Dataset 10 contains 129 variables and 2,000 cases (rural-urban migrant households). The Chinese Household Income Project collected data in 1988, 1995, 2002, and 2007. ICPSR holds data from the first three collections, and information about these can be found on the series description page. Data collected in 2007 are available through the China Institute for Income Distribution.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Households Debt in China increased to 60.10 percent of GDP in the first quarter of 2025 from 60 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - China Households Debt To Gdp- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

China: Household consumption as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 39.57 percent, an increase from 37.78 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 63.62 percent, based on data from 155 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1960 to 2023 is 47.23 percent. The minimum value, 34.6 percent, was reached in 2010 while the maximum of 72.01 percent was recorded in 1962.

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.

In 2018, the majority of Chinese urban households, around *** million, were in the upper aspirant affluency class. According to McKinsey data analysis, the growth of disposable income is lifting Chinese urban households to the mass affluent class and above. By 2030, around *** million households in China are projected to be mass affluent.

According to a survey conducted by Statista Consumer Insights among Chinese Generation Z, most of the respondents had an annual disposable household income of over ****** yuan, with ** percent of respondents having at least ******* yuan per year at their disposal. In comparison, merely five percent of respondents said they had less than ****** yuan of annual household income.

China % of Household grouped by Annual Income: Urban:>100000 data was reported at 18.080 % in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 12.220 % for 2010. China % of Household grouped by Annual Income: Urban:>100000 data is updated yearly, averaging 7.470 % from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2011, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.080 % in 2011 and a record low of 2.070 % in 2005. China % of Household grouped by Annual Income: Urban:>100000 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Household Income Distribution: Urban.

This statistic shows the average annual per capita expenditure of private urban households in China on household items and services from 1990 to 2023. In 2024, one member of a private household in China spent approximately ***** yuan on household equipment, furnishings, and services on average, down from around ***** yuan in the previous year.

. 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 60.4 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2025
• Money Supply M2 in China increased 44,251.0 USD bn YoY in Mar 2025
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,343.3 USD bn in Oct 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 15.5 Months of Import in Oct 2025
• China Domestic Credit reached 52,818.4 USD bn in Oct 2025, representing an increased of 7.9 % YoY

According to a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight, over 90 percent of Chinese respondents stated that they owned a ********************************************************. In the same survey, the majority of respondents indicated that **************** was the most important feature when choosing a household appliance.

In 2024, households in China spent on average approximately **** percent of their consumption expenditure on food, tobacco, and liquor. Rural households spent a slightly larger share of their money on food items than urban households.

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.

Key information about China Household Expenditure per Capita

• China Annual Household Expenditure per Capita reached 4,802.427 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the last update number of 4,660.400 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 4,802.427 USD in Dec 2024 and a record low of 89.641 USD in Dec 1964.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of China grew 2.900 % YoY in Oct 2025.

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.

In 2023, the number of washing machines per one hundred households was ****. As a result of the rise of Chinese household appliance producers and their consequent development of affordable products, many households in China became able to buy washing machines.

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