The table illustrates the percentage distribution of households in the United States by size, ranging from one to six or more persons, over four different years (1790, 1890, 1940, and 1990). It also provides data on the average number of people per household.
Overall, there was a clear trend of declining household size over the given period, with smaller households becoming more common and larger households steadily decreasing. Consequently, the average number of people per household fell significantly from 5.8 in 1790 to only 2.6 in 1990.
In 1790, large households were dominant, with 5-person and 6-person (or more) families accounting for 21.9% and 35.9% respectively. In contrast, only 7.7% of households consisted of a single person. By 1890, the proportion of large families had already begun to decline, as households with six or more people dropped to 26.1%, while those with one or two members increased.
The trend continued throughout the 20th century. By 1940, the percentage of 6+ person households had fallen further to 11.6%, whereas two- and three-person households grew in proportion. Finally, in 1990, one- and two-person households became the most common, at 24.6% and 32.2% respectively. On the other hand, households with five or more people became relatively rare, together representing less than 10%.
In summary, the data reveals a steady shift towards smaller household sizes in the US between 1790 and 1990, reflecting significant demographic and social changes during this 200-year period.