The bar chart illustrates the proportions of UK households consisting of different numbers of people in 1981 and 2001.
Overall, two-person households accounted for the largest proportion in both years, while six-person households had the smallest share in 2001. Another considrable feature is that smaller households became increasingly common over the period, whereas the proportion of larger households declined.
In 1981, households consisting of two people were the most prevalent, accounting for 31% of the total. This was followed by households with three people and four people, at 20% and 18%, respectively. Meanwhile, single-person households made up 17% of all households. The figures for five-person and six-person households were considerably lower, at 8% and 6%, respectively.
By 2001, the percentage of single-person households had risen significantly from 17% to 26%, while the proportion of two-person households experienced the highest increase, reaching 34%. In contrast, Three-person households fell from 20% to 17%, while the figure for four-person households decreased from 18% to 15%. Similarly, five-person households dropped slightly to 6%, whereas six-person households experienced the most substantial decline, falling from 6% to just 2%.