The number of households in the UK grew to 24.9 million in 2006 from 22.9 million in 1991. However, the number of family households has not grown as fast as the overall number of households.
Census data show that the proportion of family households decreased between 1991 and 2001, from 70.6 per cent to 67.0 per cent, a drop of 3.6 per cent. This decrease was offset by a 3.9 per cent increase in the proportion of one-person households over the same period.
The growing trend in people living alone accounted for much of the increase in the overall number of households and, as a result, the average household size has decreased.
The above table shows how the composition of households changed between 1991 and 2001. In particular it shows the rise of non-pensioner single households over the decade. Less than 1 per cent of households in England and Wales comprised two or more families in both 1991 and 2001.
Not all the UK population live in households. Data from the 2001 Census showed that men and women living in communal establishments were more likely to be single or widowed than the general household population.
Over 70 per cent of men living in communal establishments were single, and men in communal establishments were twice as likely to be single and three times more likely to be widowed as compared to men living in households.
For women in communal establishments, around 90 per cent were either single or widowed (almost 45 per cent for each group). Women in communal establishments are nearly twice as likely to be single and four times as likely to be widows as compared to women in households.
Source: Censuses, Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics; Censuses, General Register Office for Scotland; Household estimates, Communities and Local Government; Household estimates, Scottish Executive
Notes: The 2001 Census used new categories for multiple families and the presence of others in the household (ungrouped individuals who are classified as 'not in a family').
The 1991 figures for one person pensioner households and multi-person households are estimates based on the 1991 Census.
Household: a person living alone, or a group of people living at the same address who have the address as their only or main residence and either share one main meal a day or share the living accommodation (or both).
Family: married/cohabiting couple with or without child(ren), or a lone-parent with child(ren).
Dependent children: aged under 16, or aged 16-18 in full-time education and never married.
Multi-family households: families sharing a household with at least one other family.
In multi-person households two people who are not related may be a same sex couple.
State pension age is 60 for women, 65 for men.
Communal establishments' data are from the 2001 Census.
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