How many households are in the U.S.?

In 2023, there were 131.43 million households in the United States. This is a significant increase from 1960, when there were 52.8 million households in the U.S.

What counts as a household?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a household is considered to be all persons living within one housing unit. This includes apartments, houses, or single rooms, and consists of both related and unrelated people living together. For example, two roommates who share a living space but are not related would be considered a household in the eyes of the Census. It should be noted that group living quarters, such as college dorms, are not counted as households in the Census.

Household changes

While the population of the United States has been increasing, the average size of households in the U.S. has decreased since 1960. In 1960, there was an average of 3.33 people per household, but in 2023, this figure had decreased to 2.51 people per household. Additionally, two person households make up the majority of American households, followed closely by single-person households.

The average American household consisted of 2.51 people in 2023.

Households in the U.S.

As shown in the statistic, the number of people per household has decreased over the past decades.

The U.S. Census Bureau defines a household as follows: “a household includes all the persons who occupy a housing unit as their usual place of residence. A housing unit is a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single room that is occupied (or if vacant, is intended for occupancy) as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live and eat separately from any other persons in the building and which have direct access from outside the building or through a common hall. The occupants may be a single family, one person living alone, two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated persons who share living arrangements. (People not living in households are classified as living in group quarters.).”

The population of the United States has been growing steadily for decades. Since 1960, the number of households more than doubled from 53 million to over 131 million households in 2023.

Most of these households, about 34 percent, are two-person households. The distribution of U.S. households has changed over the years though. The percentage of single-person households has been on the rise since 1970 and made up the second largest proportion of households in the U.S. in 2022, at 28.88 percent.

In concordance with the rise of single-person households, the percentage of family households with own children living in the household has declined since 1970 from 56 percent to 40.26 percent in 2022.

A household consists of all the people occupying a housing unit. A household includes related and unrelated persons, if any, such as lodgers, foster children, wards, or employees who share the housing unit. A person living alone in a housing unit, or a group of unrelated people sharing a housing unit such as partners or roomers, is also counted as a household. The count of households excludes group quarters. Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey Years Available: 2010, 2015-2019

Number of Households: Indonesia data was reported at 67,173.400 Unit th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 66,385.400 Unit th for 2016. Number of Households: Indonesia data is updated yearly, averaging 55,041.000 Unit th from Dec 1989 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 67,173.400 Unit th in 2017 and a record low of 38,914.660 Unit th in 1989. Number of Households: Indonesia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Indonesia – Table ID.HB001: Number of Household.

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.

Number of Households data was reported at 31,949,709.000 Unit in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 28,159,373.000 Unit for 2010. Number of Households data is updated yearly, averaging 26,481,499.000 Unit from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31,949,709.000 Unit in 2015 and a record low of 22,268,916.000 Unit in 2000. Number of Households data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics and Geography. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.H013: Number of Household.

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.

Based on forecasts, households in Egypt had an average size of **** members in 2021. From 2017 onwards, the average number of people living in the same households in the country declined slightly year by year. This was in line with the several campaigns conducted by the governments to control population growth. Moreover, further forecasts by the source indicated that the average household size is expected to drop even more in the next years, reaching **** members.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents a breakdown of households across various income brackets in United States, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau classifies households into different categories, including total households, family households, and non-family households. Our analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data for United States reveals how household income distribution varies among these categories. The dataset highlights the variation in number of households with income, offering valuable insights into the distribution of United States households based on income levels.

Key observations

• For Family Households: In United States, the majority of family households, representing 14.18%, earn $75,000 to $99,999, showcasing a substantial share of the community families falling within this income bracket. Conversely, the minority of family households, comprising 2.01%, have incomes falling $150,000 to $199,999, representing a smaller but still significant segment of the community.
• For Non-Family Households: In United States, the majority of non-family households, accounting for 10.55%, have income Less than $10,000, indicating that a substantial portion of non-family households falls within this income bracket. On the other hand, the minority of non-family households, comprising 3.26%, earn $150,000 to $199,999, representing a smaller, yet notable, portion of non-family households in the community.

Content

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

Income Levels:

• Less than $10,000
• $10,000 to $14,999
• $15,000 to $19,999
• $20,000 to $24,999
• $25,000 to $29,999
• $30,000 to $34,999
• $35,000 to $39,999
• $40,000 to $44,999
• $45,000 to $49,999
• $50,000 to $59,999
• $60,000 to $74,999
• $75,000 to $99,999
• $125,000 to $149,999
• $150,000 to $199,999
• $200,000 or more

Variables / Data Columns

• Income Level: The income level represents the income brackets ranging from Less than $10,000 to $200,000 or more in United States (As mentioned above).
• All Households: Count of households for the specified income level
• % All Households: Percentage of households at the specified income level relative to the total households in United States
• Family Households: Count of family households for the specified income level
• % Family Households: Percentage of family households at the specified income level relative to the total family households in United States
• Non-Family Households: Count of non-family households for the specified income level
• % Non-Family Households: Percentage of non-family households at the specified income level relative to the total non-family households in United States

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 United States median household income. You can refer the same here

In 2021, about 13.43 million households were counted in the federal state of California, the most out of any state. Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania rounded out the top five states with the most number of households in that year.

Distribution of households by size of household population (since 1976)

Italy AMHE: Number of Households data was reported at 25,981,996.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 25,937,723.000 Unit for 2016. Italy AMHE: Number of Households data is updated yearly, averaging 25,175,793.000 Unit from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2017, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25,981,996.000 Unit in 2017 and a record low of 22,876,102.000 Unit in 2003. Italy AMHE: Number of Households data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.H015: Average Monthly Household Expenditure.

Brazil Number of Household: Type of Floor: Central West: Other Material data was reported at 36.789 Unit th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 31.776 Unit th for 2016. Brazil Number of Household: Type of Floor: Central West: Other Material data is updated yearly, averaging 34.282 Unit th from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 36.789 Unit th in 2017 and a record low of 31.776 Unit th in 2016. Brazil Number of Household: Type of Floor: Central West: Other Material data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Domestic Trade and Household Survey – Table BR.HF029: Number of Household: by Type of Floor: Central West.

The number of one-person households in Germany has been increasing in the last decade, while the opposite was true for three-person homes. In 2024, around ** million German households had one occupant, while roughly **** million households had three people living in them. Aging population These trends may be rooted in various reasons, such as population developments, aging, urbanization, individual lifestyles, flexible living arrangements. When looking at the growing number of one-person households, depending on the age group, this increase may be due to being single, for example, as well as an older person living alone. The ************* of the German population was aged 40 to 59 years, followed by those aged 65 and older. In terms of housing situations, **** were renting. Residential building construction in Germany struggled somewhat in recent years. Decreasing household member numbers It is not just in Germany that households are decreasing in size. A similar trend has been seen in the United States. Household size is often very dependent on the financial status of individuals. Those with more money will often opt to live alone, whilst those on a lower income may have no choice but to have roommates or to continue living with their family.

The number of households and population by household and gender1

Households in sample (Number) by Household Size and Year

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In 2024, there were around **** million Malaysian households in the country, an increase compared to around **** million households in the previous year. The increase in household numbers over the years coincided with the decreasing size of Malaysian households. Importance of households as a unit in society Households form a fundamental unit in society and the decisions taken at the household level shape and affect the economic, social and demographic processes of a country. A household is generally classified as a group of people living in one dwelling, and its members are not necessarily related to one another. Households as economic participants are both consumers of goods and services, and suppliers of labor and capital, whereas its composition and size reflect changing social norms and demographics. How Malaysian households are changing The decrease in the fertility rate in Malaysia mirrored the decrease in household size. In 2022, the average Malaysian household was made up of 3.8 persons, compared to 4.1 in 2016. However, the size of urban households in Malaysia was significantly smaller than rural ones. This could be a contributing factor to the higher poverty rates in rural areas in Malaysia – rural households need to support more members on a significantly lower income than those of urban households.

Poverty Status Of Families By Household Type By Number Of Workers In Family Report based on US Census and American Community Survey Data.

Graph and download economic data for Household Estimates (TTLHHM156N) from Apr 1955 to Jun 2025 about households and USA.

Disability, Independence and Dependency Situations Survey: Households according to the number of members in the household, the number of people with disabilities or limitations, by Autonomous Community and monthly household income. National.