A household consists of one or more persons who live in the same dwelling. It may be of a single family or another type of person group. The household is the basic unit of analysis in many social, microeconomic and government models, and is important to economics and inheritance.
Household models include families, blended families, shared housing, group homes, boarding houses, houses of multiple occupancy (UK), and single room occupancy (US). In feudal societies, the royal household and medieval households of the wealthy included servants and other retainers.
Government definitions For statistical purposes in the United Kingdom, a household is defined as "one person or a group of people who have the accommodation as their only or main residence and for a group, either share at least one meal a day or share the living accommodation, that is, a living room or sitting room". The introduction of legislation to control houses of multiple occupations in the UK Housing Act (2004) See section 258 on p. 201. required a tighter definition of a single household. People can be considered a household if they are related: full- or half-blood, foster, step-parent/child, in-laws (and equivalent for unmarried couples), a married couple or unmarried but "living as ..." (same- or different-sex couples).
The United States Census definition also hinges on "separate living quarters": "those in which the occupants live and eat separately from any other persons in the building." According to the U.S. census, a householder is the "person (or one of the people) in whose name the housing unit is owned or rented (maintained)"; if no person qualifies, any adult resident of a housing unit is considered a householder. The U.S. government formerly used "head of the household" and "head of the family", but those terms were replaced with "householder" in 1980. In the census definition of a household, it
On July 15, 1998, Statistics Canada said: "A household is generally defined as being composed of a person or group of persons who co-reside in, or occupy, a dwelling."
Economic definition
Although a one-income-stream economic theory simplifies modeling, it does not necessarily reflect reality. Many, if not most, households have several income-earning members. Most economic models do not equate households and traditional families, and there is not always a one-to-one relationship between households and families.
Social definitions In social work, a household is defined similarly: a residential group in which housework is divided and performed by householders. Care may be delivered by one householder to another, depending upon their respective needs, abilities, and (perhaps) disabilities. Household composition may affect life and health expectations and outcomes for its members. Eligibility for community services and welfare benefits may depend upon household composition.
In sociology, household work strategy (a term coined by Ray Pahl in his 1984 book, Divisions of Labour) is the division of labour among members of a household. Household work strategies vary over the life cycle as household members age, or with the economic environment; they may be imposed by one person, or be decided collectively.
Feminism examines how gender roles affect the division of labour in households. In The Second Shift and The Time Bind, sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild presents evidence that in two-career couples men and women spend about equal amounts of time working; however, women spend more time on housework. Cathy Young (another feminist writer) says that in some cases, women may prevent the equal participation of men in housework and parenting.
Models
Household models in the English-speaking world include traditional and blended families, shared housing, and group homes for people with support needs. Other models which may meet definitions of a household include boarding houses, houses in multiple occupation (UK), and single room occupancy (US).
History
In feudal or aristocratic societies, a household may include servants or retainers who derive their income from the household's principal income.
Housing statistics +Dwellings with bathrooms Country 1960 1970 1980 Belgium 23.6% 49.1% 73.9% Denmark 39.4% 73.1% 85.4% France 28.0% 48.9% 85.2% Germany 51.9% 71.5% 92.3% Greece 10.4% - 69.3% Ireland 33.0% 55.3% 82.0% Italy 10.7% 64.5% 86.4% Luxembourg 45.7% 69.4% 86.2% Netherlands 30.3% 75.5% 95.9% Portugal 18.6% - 58% Spain 24.0% 77.8% 85.3% United Kingdom 78.3% 90.9% 98.0%
+Indoor WC, bath/shower and hot running water (1988) Country Indoor WC Bath/shower Hot running water Belgium 94% 92% 87% Denmark 97% 94% N/A France 94% 93% 95% Germany 99% 97% 98% Greece 85% 85% 84% Ireland 94% 92% 91% Italy 99% 95% 93% Luxembourg 99% 97% 97% Netherlands N/A 99% 100% Portugal 80% N/A N/A Spain 97% 96% N/A UK 99% 100% N/A
+1981–82 censuses Country Bath/shower Indoor WC Central heating Belgium 73.9% 79.0% - Denmark 85.1% 95.8% 54.6% France 85.2% 85.4% 67.6% Germany 92.3% 96.0% 70.0% Greece 69.3% 70.9% - Ireland 82.0% 84.5% 39.2% Italy 86.4% 87.7% 56.5% Luxembourg 86.2% 97.3% 73.9% Netherlands 95.9% - 66.1% Portugal 58.0% 58.7% - Spain 85.3% - 22.5% United Kingdom 98.0% 97.3% -
+Average usable floor space, 1976 Country Area Austria Belgium Bulgaria Canada Czechoslovakia Denmark Finland France East Germany West Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Soviet Union Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom United States Yugoslavia
+Average usable floor space, 1994European Commission; Country Area Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France East Germany West Germany Greece Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Spain Sweden United Kingdom
+Floor space, 1992–1993 Country Year Area Australia 1993 United States 1992 South Korea 1993 United Kingdom 1992 Germany 1993 Japan 1993
+Households without an indoor WC, 1980 Country % Belgium 19% France 17% West Germany 7% Greece 29% Ireland 22% Italy 11% Japan 54% Norway 17% Portugal 43% Spain 12% United Kingdom 6%
+Households without a bath or shower Country % Belgium 24% France 17% West Germany 11% Italy 11% Japan 17% Norway 18% Spain 39% United Kingdom 4%
+Households with an indoor WC Country 1960–61 1970–71 1978–79 Britain 87% 88% 95% Germany 64% 85% 92.5%
+Households with a bath or shower Country 1960–61 1970–71 1978–79 Britain 72% 91% 94.3% Germany 51% 82% 89.1%
+ Principal residences in France lacking amenities: Year Running water WC Bath or shower Central heating 1962 21.6% 59.5% 71.1% 80.7% 1968 9.2% 45.2% 52.5% 65.1% 1975 2.8% 26.2% 29.8% 46.9% 1978 1.3% 20.9% 22.9% 39.7%
+Households with central heating Country 1970 1978 Great Britain 34% 53% Germany 44% 64%
+US dwellings with bathroom amenities, 1970 Amenity % Bath/shower 95% Flush toilet 96%
+East German amenities Amenity 1961 1971 1979 Running water 66% 82.2% 89% WC 33% 41.8% 50% Bath/shower 22.4% 38.7% 50% Central heating 2.5% 10.6% 22%
+ Amenities in European dwellings, 1970–71 Country Running water WC Bath/shower Austria 84.2% 69.8% 52.9% Belgium 88.0% 50.4% 47.8% Czechoslovakia 75.3% 49.0% 58.6% Denmark 98.7% 90.3% 76.5% Finland 72.0% 61.4% - Greece 64.9% 41.2% 35.6% Hungary 36.1% 27.2% 31.7% Ireland 78.2% 69.2% 55.4% Italy 86.1% 79.0% 64.5% Netherlands - 80.8% 81.4% Norway 97.5% 69.0% 66.1% Portugal 47.8% 33.7% 32.6% Spain 70.9% 70.9% 46.4% Sweden 97.4% 90.1% 78.3% Switzerland - 93.3% 80.9% United Kingdom - 86.3% 90.7% Yugoslavia 33.6% 26.2% 24.6%
+ British households lacking amenities Year Bath Indoor/outdoor WC Hot running water Indoor WC 1951 37.6% 7.7% - - 1961 22.4% 6.5% 21.8% - 1966 15.4% 1.7% 12.5% 18.3% 1971 9.1% 1.1% 6.5% 11.5%
+ British households sharing amenities Year Bath Indoor/outdoor WC Hot running water Indoor WC 1951 7.5% 14.9% - - 1961 4.4% 6.7% 1.8% - 1966 4.1% 6.4% 2.0% 4.4% 1971 3.2% 4.1% 1.9% 3.1%
+Households with durable goods, 1964–1971 CountryYearWashing machineRefrigeratorTelevisionTelephoneNorthern Ireland197145.4%40.1%87.5%27.0%Scotland197165.0%53.2%92.1%36.1%United Kingdom196453.0%34.0%80.0%2.2%United Kingdom197164.3%68.8%91.4%37.8%United States196587.4%99.5%97.1%85.0%United States197092.1%99.8598.7%92.0%
+EEC manual workers with durable goods, 1963–1964CountryWashing machineRefrigeratorTelevisionTelephoneBelgium74.7%24.9%47.6%8.2%France39.6%47.0%34.4%1.4%West Germany66.2%62.1%51.3%1.8%Italy13.6%50.2%47.9%20.0%Luxembourg82.3%64.7%27.9%23.0%Netherlands80.4%25.5%58.0%9.4%
+EEC white-collar workers with durable goods, 1963–1964CountryWashing machineRefrigeratorTelevisionTelephoneBelgium68.5%57.3%48.3%40.0%France48.2%71.3%43.3%15.2%West Germany62.2%79.1%51.8%19.6%Italy38.3%81.9%79.3%57.9%Luxembourg82.3%79.2%25.2%67.3%Netherlands73.9%51.6%56.2%57.4%
+Dwellings with amenities, 1960–71CountryYearRunning waterIndoor running waterToiletFlush toiletBath/showerAustria1961100.0%63.6% - -29.6%1970 -85.3%69.7% -54.5%Belgium196176.9% -99.9%47.6%24.3%Bulgaria196528.5%28.2%100.0%11.8%8.7%Canada196189.1% - -85.2%80.3%1967 -95.2%93.5%92.5%89.8%1971 - - -95.4%93.4%Czechoslovakia196160.5%49.1% -39.5%33.3%Denmark1960 -92.9%100.0%83.6%48.3%196596.7%96.7%100.0%90.9%63.4%England and Wales1961 -98.7%93.4% -78.7%1966 - - -98.2%85.1%Finland196047.1%47.1% -35.4%14.6%France1962 -77.5%43.1%39.3%28.0%196892.8%91.5%56.2%53.2%48.9%East Germany1961 -65.7%33.7% -22.1%West Germany1965 -98.2% -83.3%64.3%196899.0% - -86.5%66.8%Hungary1960 - -100.0%22.5% -196332.5%25.9% - -18.5%197058.6%36.4%100.0%32.7%32.2%Ireland196157.2%51.0%64.9%53.5%33.2%Italy196171.6%62.3%89.5% -28.9%Luxembourg196098.8% -100.0%81.6%45.7%Netherlands195689.6% -99.9%67.5%26.8%New Zealand1960 -90.0% - - -196199.6%87.8% -88.5% -196699.7%90.3% -94.0%98.1%Norway196094.0%92.8%100.0%57.9%45.2%Poland196039.1%29.9%26.9%18.9%13.9%1966 -46.8% -33.3% -Romania196648.4%12.3%100.0%12.2%9.6%Scotland1961 -94.0% -92.8%69.9%1966 - - -95.7%77.4%Sweden1960 -90.0% -76.2%61.0%196595.2%94.3%99.7%85.3%72.9%Switzerland1960 -96.1%99.7% -68.8%United States196094.0%92.9% -89.7%88.1%Yugoslavia (urban)1961 -42.4%34.5% -22.5%
+European households with at least one car, 1978Country%Belgium69.9%Denmark57.0%France66.9%West Germany62.6%Ireland65.1%Italy69.1%Netherlands67.2%United Kingdom54.4%
+Housing tenure, 1980–1990 CountryYearPublic rentalPrivate rentalOwner-occupiedAustralia19885%25%70%Belgium19866%30%62%Denmark199021%21%58%France199017%30%53%Germany199025%38%37%Ireland199014%9%78%Italy19905%24%64%Netherlands198843%13%44%Spain19891%11%88%United Kingdom199027%7%66%United States19802%32%66%
+EEC households with a garden, 1963–64 Country%Belgium58%France47%Italy17%Netherlands21%Germany45%Luxembourg81%
+Households with durable goods, 1962CountryTelevisionVacuum cleanerWashing machineRefrigeratorCarFrance25%32%31%37%33%Great Britain78%71%43%22%30%United States87%75%95%98%75%
Housing conditions Belgium A 1961–62 National Housing Institute survey estimated that 13.8 percent of Belgian dwellings were unfit and incapable of improvement. A further 19.5 percent were unfit but had the potential to be improved, and 54 percent were considered suitable (without alteration or improvement) for modern living standards. Seventy-four percent of dwellings lacked a shower or bath, 19 percent had inadequate sewage disposal, and 3.6 percent lacked a drinking-water supply; 36.8 percent had an indoor water closet. According to a 1964 study, 13 percent of Belgium's housing consisted of slums. In 1974 an estimated 17% of the Belgian population lived in a detached house, while 23% lived in an attached house, 56% in an apartment or flat, and 4% in other types of homes (trailers, mobile homes, etc.).The Book of Numbers, compiled by the Editors of Heron House, 1978, P.136-137 In terms of amenities, in 1975 an estimated 1% of all houses were without a flush toilet, 1% without electric lighting, 37% without a fixed bath or shower and 7% without piped water.The Book of Numbers, compiled by the Editors of Heron House, 1978, P.148-149
Austria