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 Sydney (C), accounting for 77.3% (80,982 households). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (49.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in total households without children, which increased by 10,498 households and 5.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Households without children by life stage
Sydney (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises households without children for Sydney (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Households without children by life stage snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sydney (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Couples without children
2021 count
29,523
% of total
28.2%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
29,523
28.2%
+2.3pp
Lone person households
2021 count
40,160
% of total
38.3%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
40,160
38.3%
+5.8pp
Young lone persons
2021 count
21,864
% of total
20.9%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
21,864
20.9%
+3.8pp
Middle-aged lone persons
2021 count
11,324
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
11,324
10.8%
+1.1pp
Older lone persons
2021 count
6,967
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
6,967
6.6%
+0.9pp
Group households
2021 count
11,299
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
11,299
10.8%
-2.7pp
Total households without children
2021 count
80,982
% of total
77.3%
Change from 2016
+5.4pp
80,982
77.3%
+5.4pp
Chart view
Households without children by life stage change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples without children
+4,136
+2.3pp
Lone person households
+8,302
+5.8pp
Young lone persons
+5,058
+3.8pp
Middle-aged lone persons
+1,830
+1.1pp
Older lone persons
+1,403
+0.9pp
Group households
-1,940
-2.7pp
Total households without children
+10,498
+5.4pp
Data table
Households without children for Sydney (C). Households without children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Couples without children | 29,523 | 28.2% | 23.3% | 25,387 | 25.9% | 22.4% | +4,136 | +2.3pp |
| Lone person households | 40,160 | 38.3% | 22.2% | 31,858 | 32.5% | 20.4% | +8,302 | +5.8pp |
| Young lone persons | 21,864 | 20.9% | 6.8% | 16,806 | 17.1% | 5.8% | +5,058 | +3.8pp |
| Middle-aged lone persons | 11,324 | 10.8% | 6.7% | 9,494 | 9.7% | 6.5% | +1,830 | +1.1pp |
| Older lone persons | 6,967 | 6.6% | 8.7% | 5,564 | 5.7% | 8.1% | +1,403 | +0.9pp |
| Group households | 11,299 | 10.8% | 4.0% | 13,239 | 13.5% | 4.5% | -1,940 | -2.7pp |
| Total households without children | 80,982 | 77.3% | 49.6% | 70,484 | 71.9% | 47.3% | +10,498 | +5.4pp |
| Total households | 104,787 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 98,001 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,786 | 0.0pp |