Australia Yearbook - 2001

158 Year Book Australia 2001
5.44 AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE, Persons Per Household
no.
5.0
2.5
1911 1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999
Source: Year Book Australia 1988: Census of Population and Housing, 30 June 1981: Summary
Characteristics of Persons and Dwellings (2443.0); Household Estimates,
Australia (3229.0); Australian Demographic Statistics (3101.0).
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
In 1976, 60% of families were made up of couples
with children. By 1996 this had fallen to 50%
(table 5.45). Part of this change can be attributed
to the increase in one parent families with
dependent children, but most of the change is
due to the increase in the proportion of
couple-only families. People are having children
later in life, and are living longer. They are
spending more time living in couple-only families,
both before they have children and after their
children have left home.
Further characteristics of households and families
are available from Labour Force Status and Other
Characteristics of Families, Australia (6224.0).
Household and family projections
Household and family projections are estimates
of future numbers of households and families,
based on assumptions about changing living
arrangements of the population. The ABS has
published three series of projections for the years
1996 to 2021. These series are based on varying
assumptions about trends in living arrangements.
In Series A the pattern of living arrangements of
individuals is the same as in 1996. In Series B and
C, recent trends in the patterns of living
arrangements are incorporated into the
projections. In Series B the average annual rate
of change in living arrangements experienced
between 1986 and 1996 is applied in reducing
levels (in full between 1996 and 2001, in fractions
to 2011, and then held constant to 2021). In
Series C the rate of change experienced between
1986 and 1996 is applied in full throughout the
projection period.
5.45 FAMILY TYPE—1976–96
1976(a) 1981(a)
1986(a)
1991(a)
Family type
%
%
%
%
%
One parent family with dependent children 6.5 8.6 7.8 8.8 9.9
Couple only 28.0 28.7 30.3 31.4 34.1
Couple with dependent children 48.4 46.6 44.8 44.4 40.6
Couple with non-dependent children only 11.1 10.0 10.9 9.5 9.0
Other families 5.9 6.0 6.2 5.9 6.4
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
(a) Excludes caravan park dwellers.
Source: 1976–91: Australian Social Trends, 1994 (4102.0); 1996 Census of Population and Housing.
1996