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, two-person households was the most common household size among households in Darwin (C), accounting for 32.6% (9,279 households). This share was higher than Greater Darwin (31.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in one-person households, which increased by 1,288 households and 2.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Household size

Darwin (C) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises household size for Darwin (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Darwin and change since 2016.

Household size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Darwin (C), with comparison markers for Greater Darwin.

Darwin (C)
Greater Darwin

Number Of Persons Usually Resident One

2021 count

7,221

% of total

25.4%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two

2021 count

9,279

% of total

32.6%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three

2021 count

5,112

% of total

18.0%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four

2021 count

4,170

% of total

14.7%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five

2021 count

1,688

% of total

5.9%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More

2021 count

992

% of total

3.5%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Data table

Household size for Darwin (C). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.

Household size for Darwin (C). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
Household size for Darwin (C). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Darwin%Count%Greater Darwin%Countpp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One7,22125.4%23.4%5,93322.9%20.8%+1,288+2.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two9,27932.6%31.9%8,74333.8%32.9%+536-1.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three5,11218.0%18.1%4,57617.7%18.0%+536+0.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four4,17014.7%15.9%3,92615.2%16.6%+244-0.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five1,6885.9%6.8%1,6716.5%7.4%+17-0.6pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More9923.5%3.9%1,0524.1%4.3%-60-0.6pp
Total28,456100.0%100.0%25,905100.0%100.0%+2,5510.0pp