Households
Household size
About this topic
Household size shows how many people live in each household. It is a basic but important measure of family life, dwelling use, and the way people share housing.
This topic helps indicate demand for different dwelling sizes and can reflect life-cycle patterns, cultural norms, and affordability pressures. It is best read with household type, age structure, and dwelling type, because changes in household size can happen for very different reasons.
Interpretation notes
- This counts the number of people usually resident in the dwelling, so it describes shared living arrangements rather than dwelling size.
- Household size should be read with bedrooms or dwelling structure before drawing conclusions about crowding or housing suitability.
Key insight
In 2021, one-person households was the most common household size among households in Adelaide, accounting for 45.3% (3,741 households). This share was higher than Adelaide (C) (44.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in one-person households, which increased by 1,228 households and 3.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
Adelaide - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for Adelaide in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Adelaide (C) and change since 2016.
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide, with comparison markers for Adelaide (C).
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
2021 count
3,741
% of total
45.3%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
3,741
45.3%
+3.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
2021 count
3,269
% of total
39.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
3,269
39.6%
+1.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
2021 count
834
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
834
10.1%
-2.7pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
2021 count
324
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
324
3.9%
-1.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
2021 count
50
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
50
0.6%
-0.7pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
2021 count
27
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
27
0.3%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
+1,228
+3.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
+964
+1.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
+64
-2.7pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
-2
-1.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
-26
-0.7pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
+4
-0.1pp
Data table
Household size for Adelaide. Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Adelaide (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident One | 3,741 | 45.3% | 44.4% | 2,513 | 41.8% | 41.0% | +1,228 | +3.5pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two | 3,269 | 39.6% | 39.5% | 2,305 | 38.3% | 38.7% | +964 | +1.3pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three | 834 | 10.1% | 10.3% | 770 | 12.8% | 12.4% | +64 | -2.7pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four | 324 | 3.9% | 4.4% | 326 | 5.4% | 5.9% | -2 | -1.5pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five | 50 | 0.6% | 1.0% | 76 | 1.3% | 1.5% | -26 | -0.7pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More | 27 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 23 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +4 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 8,254 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,014 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,240 | 0.0pp |