Household Size and Composition around the World, 1970 - 2020

Albert Esteve, Center for Demographic Studies (Barcelona)
Maria Pohl , Center for Demographic Studies
Federica Becca, Center for Demographic Studies
Huifen Fang, Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics
Juan Galeano, Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics
Joan Garcia Roman, Center for Demographic Studies (Barcelona)
David Reher, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Rita Trias-Prats, Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics
Anna Turu, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Using data from 793 time points and 156 countries in the new CORESIDENCE database, this article provides a comprehensive analysis of global household size and composition trends. The findings reveal that despite significant international variations in household size, ranging from 1.8 in Denmark to 8.4 in Senegal, there is a widespread decline in household size. On average, households have decreased by approximately 0.5 persons per decade. Children contribute to over three-quarters of the observed variability and decline in household size in recent decades. In contrast, the number of other relatives in households has remained relatively stable or has only moderately decreased. While households are becoming more similar in size, their composition is not converging globally to the same extent. Further investigation is required to understand the underlying factors driving these dynamics.

See paper

 Presented in Session 31. Time Trends in Family and Household Types