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Dataset population: Households

Lone-parent households with dependent children where the lone parent is aged 16 to 74

In most tables, the term 'lone-parent household' is used to describe a household that comprises a lone parent family and no other person. In the alternative household type variable, a lone-parent household is defined as a household that contains at least one lone-parent family but does not contain any married, same-sex civil partnership or cohabiting couples.

A count of the dependent children living in a household. A dependent child is a person aged 0 to 15 in a household (whether or not in a family) or aged 16 to 18 in full-time education and living in a family with his or her parent(s) or grandparent(s). It does not include any children who have a spouse, partner or child living in the household.

This statistic shows the cost in 2019, for lone parents, of a first child in the United Kingdom (UK) from the age of 0 to 17. Figures are compared for the costs including childcare and rent/council tax and for the costs excluding childcare and rent/council tax.

The costs with childcare and rent/council tax are consistently higher than those without. The most expensive period for lone parents, including childcare and rent/council tax, is from birth to the age of 2. Excluding childcare and rent/council tax, this period comes from age 11 to age 18.

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

The Census 2011 identifies concealed families in each district of the country. Here, we present the data and a breakdown of families into various groups; unconcealed, concealed lone parent families and concealed families. It is important to note that the data only identifies families with children, and does not identify lone individuals concealed within another household. So, what is a concealed family? Where more than one family lives in a property, the “second” family is called concealed – for example a young couple living with parents, or an older couple living in their son or daughter’s family home. What is a family reference person? Using the Census, each family is assigned a Family Reference Person (FRP). Where there is more than one family reference person in the household, the primary family is identified (usually the one containing the oldest full-time worker). Other families living in the same property are then counted identified as “concealed”. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) analyses concealed family types for each district, including the age group of the Family Reference Person. This is the data we have used, with a little editing to ensure it is "open" data.

A lone parent is defined as a parent with a dependent child living in a household with no other people (whether related to that dependent child or not). Source: Census 2001 Publisher: Neighbourhood Statistics Geographies: Output Area (OA), Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA), Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA), Ward, Local Authority District (LAD), Government Office Region (GOR), National Geographic coverage: England and Wales Time coverage: 2001 Type of data: Survey (census)

Dataset population: Lone-parent households with dependent children where the lone parent is aged 16 to 74

Economic activity

Economic activity relates to whether or not a person who was aged 16 and over was working or looking for work in the week before census. Rather than a simple indicator of whether or not someone was currently in employment, it provides a measure of whether or not a person was an active participant in the labour market.

A person's economic activity is derived from their 'activity last week'. This is an indicator of their status or availability for employment - whether employed, unemployed, or their status if not employed and not seeking employment. Additional information included in the economic activity classification is also derived from information about the number of hours a person works and their type of employment - whether employed or self-employed.

The census concept of economic activity is compatible with the standard for economic status defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It is one of a number of definitions used internationally to produce accurate and comparable statistics on employment, unemployment and economic status.

Lone-parent households with dependent children where the lone parent is aged 16 to 74

In most tables, the term 'lone-parent household' is used to describe a household that comprises a lone parent family and no other person. In the alternative household type variable, a lone-parent household is defined as a household that contains at least one lone-parent family but does not contain any married, same-sex civil partnership or cohabiting couples.

A count of the dependent children living in a household. A dependent child is a person aged 0 to 15 in a household (whether or not in a family) or aged 16 to 18 in full-time education and living in a family with his or her parent(s) or grandparent(s). It does not include any children who have a spouse, partner or child living in the household.

Sex

The classification of a person as either male or female.

In 2024, there were approximately 8.1 million households in the United Kingdom composed of a couple with no children, which was the most common type of household arrangement in this year. The second-most common type of household were couples living with one or two dependent children, at around 5.2 million.

Census Key Statistics Table KS22: Lone parent households with dependent children A dependent child is a person in a household aged 0 - 15 (whether or not in a family) or a person aged 16-18 who is a full-time student in a family with parent(s). For the Census; part-time is defined as working 30 hours or less a week. Full time is defined as 31or more hours a week. For the purposes of this table; a lone parent is defined as a parent with a dependent child living in a household with no other persons (whether related to that dependent child or not). This definition is to be distinguished from the standard definitition of a lone parent used in other tables. Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. All data is © Crown Copyright 2003. Census day was 29 April 2001.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 years and over in families with dependent children in England and Wales by family status, by number of parents working, and by economic activity status. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

As Census 2021 was during a unique period of rapid change, take care when using this data for planning purposes. Read more about this quality notice.

As Census 2021 was during a unique period of rapid change, take care when using this data for planning purposes. Read more about this quality notice.

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

Family status by workers in generation 1

Classifies parents aged 16 years and over with dependent children in the family, by family status, the number of parents working, and economic activity.

Economic activity status

People aged 16 years and over are economically active if, between 15 March and 21 March 2021, they were:

• in employment (an employee or self-employed)
• unemployed, but looking for work and could start within two weeks
• unemployed, but waiting to start a job that had been offered and accepted

It is a measure of whether or not a person was an active participant in the labour market during this period. Economically inactive are those aged 16 years and over who did not have a job between 15 March to 21 March 2021 and had not looked for work between 22 February to 21 March 2021 or could not start work within two weeks.

The census definition differs from International Labour Organization definition used on the Labour Force Survey, so estimates are not directly comparable.

This classification splits out full-time students from those who are not full-time students when they are employed or unemployed. It is recommended to sum these together to look at all of those in employment or unemployed, or to use the four category labour market classification, if you want to look at all those with a particular labour market status.

There were estimated to be just under 3.7 million one-child families in the United Kingdom in 2024, with a further 3.4 million two-child families, and 1.2 million families that have three or more children.

A lone parent is defined as a parent with a dependent child living in a household with no other people (whether related to that dependent child or not). Source: Census 2001 Publisher: Neighbourhood Statistics Geographies: Output Area (OA), Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA), Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA), Ward, Local Authority District (LAD), Government Office Region (GOR), National Geographic coverage: England and Wales Time coverage: 2001 Type of data: Survey (census)

In 2024, the additional basic costs of bringing up a child from birth to 18 years old was approximately, 165,872 pounds for couples or 186,822 pounds for a lone parent. The full cost, which includes rent and childcare, was 259,028 pounds for couples and, 290,807 for a lone parent.

As of 2023, the average weekly expenditure for households in South East England was 612.4 British pounds a week, compared with the UK average of 526 pounds. Households in the South East, along with those in London, the South West, and East England all spent more than the UK average, while households in North East England had the lowest averagae weekly expenditure.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify families in England and Wales by family type, by dependent children and by age of the Family Reference Person. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021. A concealed family is one that does not include the Household Reference Person.

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

Concealed family type

This categorises the type of concealed family, whether it is a lone parent or couple family, with or without dependent or non-dependent children.

A concealed family does not include the Household Reference Person (HRP).

Example

George and Amy live at the same address as their daughter Emily and her husband and daughter.

Because Emily is not a dependent child and has her own family, there are two families in this household.

Family one are George and wife Amy. George is the Family Reference Person (FRP).

Family two is daughter Emily, husband Simon and their daughter Eve. Emily is the FRP.

As there is more than one family in the household, The FRPs are prioritised to decide who is the HRP.

In this household, George is the HRP.

This means that Emily's family is a "concealed family". Their HRP is George. They will be included as part of his household in relevant outputs.

Age of the family reference person

Age of the Family Reference Person

In 2022/23 the average weekly household expenditure in the United Kingdom was 567.7 British pounds a week, with households in the bottom decile spending around 262 pounds, and the richest ten percent of households spending almost 1,030 pounds every week.

In 2022/23, the average household in the United Kingdom spent around 567.7 British pounds a week, compared with 588.8 pounds in 2020/21. During this time period, household spending peaked in 2018/19 at 697.1 pounds per week.

There were estimated to be around 12.8 million married couple families in the United Kingdom as of 2024, with a further 3.3 million opposite-sex cohabiting couple family families, and 2.6 million lone-mother families.