ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLD IN EUROPE

The number of one-person households has increased strongly and steadil y throughout Europe. The largest number of single-person households is found among the population aged 65 and over. Their number, however, i s growing only slowly, while the rate of growth in the intermediate ag e group is higher, and is largest among people aged between 25 and 35. It is not surprising that the increase in the propensity to live alon e is lowest among widows and widowers, average for divorced persons, a nd highest for the single. Residential autonomy results from higher mo rtality levels among elderly men, difficulties in forming couple-relat ionships in the intermediate age group, and postponement of adult comm itments by young people. The paper is based on a review of European re search and shows a series of important characteristics of single-perso n households. The prevalence of these households differs between socia l groups and they are commonest at either end of the social scale, par ticularly among men. Patterns of living alone during their life cycles differ for men and women. Finally, single-person households are rarel y durable, except among the elderly, and often constitute a series of very brief experiments for the young.