The Census proves I’m not a weirdo for living alone
Almost a quarter of Aussie households now consist of just one person.
Let's be clear here: there are many reasons you might want to call me a weirdo. I have an unhealthy addiction to my Opal card, I enjoy 1970s credit card ads and I sometimes travel on Tigerair for pleasure. But if you try and single me out as an oddball because I live alone, you're sadly out of date.
According to just-released figures from the 2016 census, 24.4% of Australian households consist of a single person. That's up from 21.1% in 1991. While one-family households remain the most common type, their prevalence is declining, dropping from 74.7% in 1992 to 69.4% last year, as you can see in the following chart from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS):
I'm more of an oddity for living in a unit: just 13.1% of Australians do that, compared to 72.9% who reside in a standalone house. But I don't mind, and realistically that's the only way to go when you're paying off your mortgage from a single income. Coupling has economic benefits, as well as emotional ones.
Angus Kidman's Findings column looks at new developments and research that can help you save money, make wise decisions and enjoy your life more. It appears Monday through Friday on finder.com.au.
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