Registrar General Publishes Scotland's Household Estimates for 2004

30th August 2005

The number of households in Scotland has increased by 10 per cent since 1991, the Registrar General announced today as he issued his Household Estimates for 2004.

In June 2004, Scotland had 2.25 million households, a 0.9 per cent (21,000) increase from the previous year and a 10 per cent (203,000) increase since 1991.

Duncan Macniven, Registrar General for Scotland, said:

“These figures are not a surprise. Although Scotland’s population has fallen slightly since 1991, the number of households is increasing because the average household size is getting smaller.

“Over the past five years, the number of adults living alone has continued to increase, and the number of larger households (three or more adults, or two or more adults with one or more children) has decreased.

“According to the 1991 Census, 29 per cent of households contained just one adult – this figure has now risen to 34 per cent. Meanwhile, the percentage of households containing two or more adults with one or more children has fallen from 25 per cent in 1991 to 21 per cent now.

“Locally, the largest increases in the number of households over the past year were in North Ayrshire (2.7 per cent), Aberdeenshire (2.0 per cent) and West Lothian (1.8 per cent), while Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire showed very small decreases.

“In 2004, 4.6 per cent of all dwellings in Scotland were vacant or second homes (including some self-catering holiday accommodation). The largest numbers of second homes or dwellings lying vacant were in the island authorities, Argyll & Bute and Highland.”

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

1. Household estimates for Scotland are available from the General Register Office for Scotland website at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

2. For further information about these statistics, please contact the household estimates and projections contact person using our Contact Form.

Media Contact: Karen McNally, T. 0131 244 2967