10 March 2009

The share of one-person households varies significantly across countries in UNECE region. In Nordic countries, one-person households represented around 40% of the total number of private households in 2006. In other countries, they represented a much smaller share: in 2006, they were only 3% in Turkey, 14% in Spain and 18% in Israel. The share is relatively low also in Central Asian countries, where the latest data available (2000) are between 7% and 14%.

Over the last quarter of a century the share of one-person households has grown steadily in all countries for which data are available. The highest increases have been observed in Finland (27% in 1980 to 40% in 2006) and the Netherlands (22% in 1980 to 35% in 2006). The rising number of persons aged 30-64 living solo, either by choice or due to circumstances, has considerably affected the trend in the region. Although solo living persons are more vulnerable to adverse events (losing job, illness etc), the share of one person households may continue growing in the future.

(1) Data refer to 2000

(2) Data for 2006 refer to 2005

(3) Data for 1980 refer to 1981

(4) Data for 1980 do not cover former GDR

Source: UNECE Statistical database