The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its latest data on families and households in the UK, revealing significant trends in living arrangements. The report, which covers the year 2022, shows an increase in the number of families and households compared to a decade ago.
Key findings from the report include:
- Families:
- In 2022, there were 19.4 million families in the UK, marking an increase of just over 1 million families (5.7%) since 2012.
- Out of the total number of families, 43% (8.3 million) had no children living with them, 42% (8.2 million) had one or more dependent children, and 15% (2.9 million) had only non-dependent children.
- Married or civil-partnered couple families accounted for the majority of families in 2022, making up 66% of all families. Cohabiting-couple families represented 19% of families, while lone-parent families constituted the remaining 15%.
- Among the 2.9 million lone-parent families, the majority were headed by lone mothers (84%), while lone fathers accounted for 16% of lone-parent families.
- Households:
- The UK saw an estimated 28.2 million households in 2022, marking a 6.1% increase (1.6 million) since 2012. Two-thirds of households consisted of one family, either a couple with or without children (57%) or a lone-parent family (10%).
- The average household size remained consistent over the past decade, with 2.36 residents per household in both 2012 and 2022.
- One-family households were the most common type, accounting for two-thirds of all households in 2022 (18.8 million households). One-person households, or individuals living alone, represented nearly one-third (30%) of households in 2022 (8.3 million households).
- Living Alone:
- The number of people living alone in the UK reached 8.3 million in 2022, representing 13% of the household population and 30% of all households.
- Women accounted for the majority (53%) of one-person households, with 4.4 million women living alone compared to 3.9 million men.
- The data revealed that the number of men living alone increased by 0.4 million over the past decade, surpassing the 0.2 million increase in the number of women living alone.
- The age distribution of individuals living alone showed an upward trend for both men and women. In 2022, half of those living alone were aged 65 years and over, compared to 45% in 2012. Additionally, a larger proportion of men and women living alone were aged 75 years or over.
The report provides valuable insights into the changing dynamics of families and households in the UK. The increase in the number of families and households reflects societal shifts in living arrangements and highlights the importance of understanding these changes for policy planning and resource allocation.
For more detailed analysis of families in England and Wales, including multi-generational households and children with a second parental address, recent analysis of the Families in England and Wales: Census 2021 is available.
The ONS’s Families and Households data for 2022 offers a comprehensive overview of the UK’s living arrangements, shedding light on important social trends. The report provides policymakers, researchers, and the general public with valuable information for understanding the diverse nature of families and households