Households
Households without children
About this topic
Households without children includes couple-only households and lone person households, grouped by life stage. In this topic, life stage is based on the age of the household reference person rather than on the ages of all people in the dwelling.
This topic is useful for understanding the mix of younger adult, mid-life, and older households and the different housing and service needs they may have. It works best alongside household size, age structure, and dwelling type.
Interpretation notes
- This is a derived subset of couple-only and lone-person households, not a summary of all household types.
- The life-stage labels are based on the age of the household reference person, so they simplify the ages of everyone else in the household.
Key insight
In 2021, total households without children was the most common household life-stage group among households in Melbourne (part), accounting for 79.8% (24,207 households). This share was higher than Melbourne (C) (77.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in total households without children, which increased by 6,056 households and 5.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Households without children by life stage
Melbourne (part) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises households without children for Melbourne (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Households without children by life stage snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melbourne (part), with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Couples without children
2021 count
7,038
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
7,038
23.2%
+2.4pp
Lone person households
2021 count
12,958
% of total
42.7%
Change from 2016
+10.2pp
12,958
42.7%
+10.2pp
Young lone persons
2021 count
10,210
% of total
33.7%
Change from 2016
+8.7pp
10,210
33.7%
+8.7pp
Middle-aged lone persons
2021 count
1,904
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,904
6.3%
+1.3pp
Older lone persons
2021 count
841
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
841
2.8%
+0.4pp
Group households
2021 count
4,211
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
-6.7pp
4,211
13.9%
-6.7pp
Total households without children
2021 count
24,207
% of total
79.8%
Change from 2016
+5.9pp
24,207
79.8%
+5.9pp
Chart view
Households without children by life stage change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples without children
+1,928
+2.4pp
Lone person households
+4,983
+10.2pp
Young lone persons
+4,063
+8.7pp
Middle-aged lone persons
+673
+1.3pp
Older lone persons
+243
+0.4pp
Group households
-856
-6.7pp
Total households without children
+6,056
+5.9pp
Data table
Households without children for Melbourne (part). Households without children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Couples without children | 7,038 | 23.2% | 24.8% | 5,110 | 20.8% | 21.9% | +1,928 | +2.4pp |
| Lone person households | 12,958 | 42.7% | 39.7% | 7,975 | 32.5% | 31.4% | +4,983 | +10.2pp |
| Young lone persons | 10,210 | 33.7% | 28.6% | 6,147 | 25.0% | 22.2% | +4,063 | +8.7pp |
| Middle-aged lone persons | 1,904 | 6.3% | 7.1% | 1,231 | 5.0% | 5.8% | +673 | +1.3pp |
| Older lone persons | 841 | 2.8% | 4.0% | 598 | 2.4% | 3.4% | +243 | +0.4pp |
| Group households | 4,211 | 13.9% | 12.6% | 5,067 | 20.6% | 18.1% | -856 | -6.7pp |
| Total households without children | 24,207 | 79.8% | 77.1% | 18,151 | 73.9% | 71.4% | +6,056 | +5.9pp |
| Total households | 30,332 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 24,565 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,767 | 0.0pp |