As of 2024, there were estimated to be almost *** million two-person households in the United Kingdom, the most of any household size that year. In the same year, there were *** million three-person households, while around *** million people lived alone.

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

The average household size in London was 2.51 people per household in 2024, compared with the UK average of 2.35 people per household.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents in England and Wales by single year of 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

Household size

The number of people in the household.

Visitors staying at an address do not count to that household’s size. ally classified as upper tier local authorities.

United Kingdom Average Household Size: Number of People data was reported at 2.390 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.380 Person for 2015. United Kingdom Average Household Size: Number of People data is updated yearly, averaging 2.370 Person from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2016, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.420 Person in 1996 and a record low of 2.360 Person in 2012. United Kingdom Average Household Size: Number of People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.H027: Number of Households, Household Size and Type.

In 2024, the average number of people per household in the United Kingdom was 2.35 compared with 2.42 people per household in 1996.

Dataset population: Persons/Households/Household spaces

Household size

The size of a household is equal to the number of usual residents in the household. Visitors staying at an address do not contribute to that household's size because they are counted in the household of their place of usual residence.

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.

Average weekly household expenditure on goods and services in the UK. Data are shown by region, age, income (including equivalised) group (deciles and quintiles), economic status, socio-economic class, housing tenure, output area classification, urban and rural areas (Great Britain only), place of purchase and household composition.

Number of Households: Gross data was reported at 26,600.000 Unit th in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26,840.000 Unit th for 2013. Number of Households: Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 26,110.000 Unit th from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2014, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26,840.000 Unit th in 2013 and a record low of 25,350.000 Unit th in 2007. Number of Households: Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.H027: Number of Households, Household Size and Type.

This dataset provides Census 2022 estimates for the Household Size in Scotland.

Household

A household is defined as:

one person living alone, or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address who share cooking facilities and share a living room or sitting room, or dining area This includes:

all sheltered accommodation units in an establishment (irrespective of whether there are other communal facilities), and all people living in caravans on any type of site that is their usual residence; this will include anyone who has no other usual residence elsewhere in the UK A household must contain at least one person whose place of usual residence is at the address. A group of short-term residents living together is not classified as a household, and neither is a group of people at an address where only visitors are staying.

The quality assurance report can be found here

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify households in Northern Ireland, with at least one usual resident, by household size. It also includes an estimate of the number of usual residents living in households and average household size. The estimates are as at census day, 21 March 2021.

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

Average household size is a calculation of the usually resident population living in households divided by the number of households.

The quality assurance report can be found here

Tenure and household size by number of rooms. Census Area Statistics Table CAS051 Source: Census 2001 Publisher: Nomis Geographies: Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA), Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA), Local Authority District (LAD), Government Office Region (GOR), National, Parliamentary Constituency, Urban area Geographic coverage: England and Wales Time coverage: 2001 Type of data: Survey (census)

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents median household incomes for various household sizes in England, AR, 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, England did not include 5, 6, or 7-person households. Across the different household sizes in England the mean income is $64,018, and the standard deviation is $32,785. The coefficient of variation (CV) is 51.21%. 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 $20,006. It then further increased to $59,740 for 4-person households, the largest household size for which the bureau reported a median household income.

https://i.neilsberg.com/ch/england-ar-median-household-income-by-household-size.jpeg" alt="England, AR 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 England median household income. You can refer the same here

United Kingdom % of Household: by Type: 1 Family Households: Couple: Number Children data was reported at 28.686 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 28.332 % for 2015. United Kingdom % of Household: by Type: 1 Family Households: Couple: Number Children data is updated yearly, averaging 28.525 % from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2016, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.048 % in 2005 and a record low of 27.437 % in 1996. United Kingdom % of Household: by Type: 1 Family Households: Couple: Number Children data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.H027: Number of Households, Household Size and Type.

Presents recent estimates of the number of families by type, people in families by family type and children in families by type. Types of family include married couple families, cohabiting couple families and lone parent families. Tables on household size, household types and people in different household types are also provided. These include estimates of people living alone, multi-family households and households where members are all unrelated. Source agency: Office for National Statistics Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Families and Households

This statistic shows the volume of household food and drink waste in the United Kingdom in 2012, by household size and avoidability. Households with two occupants generated an average of ** kilograms of unavoidable food and drink waste.

United Kingdom % of Household: by Type: Multi-Family Households data was reported at 1.192 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.091 % for 2015. United Kingdom % of Household: by Type: Multi-Family Households data is updated yearly, averaging 0.835 % from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2016, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.192 % in 2016 and a record low of 0.662 % in 1997. United Kingdom % of Household: by Type: Multi-Family Households data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.H027: Number of Households, Household Size and Type.

Families and children in the UK by family type including married couples, cohabiting couples and lone parents. Also shows household size and people living alone.

A survey conducted in 2020 revealed that ** percent of the respondents who lived on their own in the United Kingdom (UK) always checked the ingredients when buying food, compared to ** percent of respondents who lived with *** other people. A share of ** percent of the respondents from households with **** members stated they never looked at the ingredients of the food they were buying.