Household

What is a Household?

A household consists of one or more persons living in the same dwelling. It can be as simple as a single person or as complex as multiple families sharing space, all under the roof of what we call home. But have you ever wondered why households are so important? They’re not just about where people live; they play a crucial role in economics and inheritance.

Defining Households for Statistics

In the UK, a household is defined as ‘one person or a group of people who have the accommodation as their only or main residence.’ In the United States, it’s broader: separate living quarters are considered households regardless of the number of occupants. This definition also considers relationships such as family ties and married couples.

Types of Households

A household can be composed of one person or multiple persons, including related individuals, unrelated persons, and those sharing living arrangements. Economic models often do not equate households with traditional families, and many households have multiple income-earning members. In social work, a household is defined as a residential group where housework is divided among members.

Household Composition Affects Life and Health Expectations

The composition of a household affects life and health expectations and outcomes. For instance, in sociology, the division of labor among household members varies over time and is influenced by economic environments and gender roles. Feminist research has shown that women spend more time on housework than men in two-career couples.

Household Models

Household models include traditional families, blended families, shared housing, group homes, boarding houses, and single room occupancy. In feudal societies, households may have servants or retainers who derive their income from the household’s principal income.

Housing Statistics Across Countries

Let’s take a look at some fascinating statistics on housing across different countries:

• Austria: 28% of the population lived in detached houses in 1974, with 10% without a flush toilet and 34% without a fixed bath or shower.
• Ireland: 27% of the population lived in detached houses in 1974, while 21% of all houses lacked a flush toilet and 20% lacked a fixed bath or shower.
• Japan: 65% of the population lived in detached houses in 1973, with 12% living in attached houses. In terms of amenities: – Netherlands: – 1% without flush toilet – 1% without electric lighting – 2% without fixed bath or shower – 1% without piped water
• Italy: 4% without flush toilet, 2% without electric lighting, 27% without fixed bath or shower, and 1% without piped water.
• Norway: 13% without flush toilet, 1% without electric lighting, 25% without fixed bath or shower, and 1% without piped water.

The statistics paint a picture of how living conditions have changed over time. For instance, in France, homes with showers or baths increased from 10 to 65%, while homes without flush toilets fell from 73 to 30%. Homes without running water fell from 42 to 3.4%.

United Kingdom Statistics

In the United Kingdom, after World War II and in 1964, statistics showed that 78% of single-family homes were present in 1961. By 1964, 50% of housing had three bedrooms, while 6.2% had four bedrooms, and 31.3% had two bedrooms.

Overcrowding and Room Standards

Statistics on overcrowding and room standards in England and Wales showed that by 1964, only 0.5% of households exceeded the statutory overcrowding standard, while 8.1% had one bedroom below the standard.

Housing Figures for England and Wales

By 1975, in the United States, 64% lived in detached houses, with only 28% in apartments or flats. In Canada, 59% lived in detached houses, while 33% were in apartments or flats.

Consumer Durables

A section on ‘Consumer Durables’ provides estimates of household ownership of a wide range of consumer durables in OECD and East European countries. This data gives us insight into the standard of living and technological advancement within households over time.

As we can see, households are not just about where people live; they’re a complex web of relationships and economic factors. Understanding the composition and statistics of households helps us grasp how living conditions have evolved over time and what challenges remain in ensuring everyone has a safe and comfortable home.