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 Sutherland Shire (A), accounting for 32.6% (27,178 households). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (30.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in two-person households, which increased by 3,228 households and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
Sutherland Shire (A) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for Sutherland Shire (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sutherland Shire (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
2021 count
18,511
% of total
22.2%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
18,511
22.2%
+1.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
2021 count
27,178
% of total
32.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
27,178
32.6%
+1.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
2021 count
13,332
% of total
16.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
13,332
16.0%
-0.7pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
2021 count
15,577
% of total
18.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
15,577
18.7%
-0.8pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
2021 count
6,452
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
6,452
7.7%
-0.8pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
2021 count
2,232
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,232
2.7%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
+2,472
+1.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
+3,228
+1.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
+604
-0.7pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
+674
-0.8pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
-12
-0.8pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
-42
-0.3pp
Data table
Household size for Sutherland Shire (A). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident One | 18,511 | 22.2% | 23.2% | 16,039 | 21.0% | 21.6% | +2,472 | +1.2pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two | 27,178 | 32.6% | 30.7% | 23,950 | 31.4% | 29.9% | +3,228 | +1.2pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three | 13,332 | 16.0% | 17.2% | 12,728 | 16.7% | 17.6% | +604 | -0.7pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four | 15,577 | 18.7% | 17.3% | 14,903 | 19.5% | 18.1% | +674 | -0.8pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five | 6,452 | 7.7% | 7.3% | 6,464 | 8.5% | 8.0% | -12 | -0.8pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More | 2,232 | 2.7% | 4.2% | 2,274 | 3.0% | 4.7% | -42 | -0.3pp |
| Total | 83,292 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 76,356 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,936 | 0.0pp |