3236.0 - Household and Family Projections, Australia, 2011 to 2036 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/03/2015   
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FAMILY PROJECTIONS

INTRODUCTION

The number of families in Australia is projected to increase from 6.1 million in 2011 to between 8.9 and 9.0 million in 2036, representing growth of between 46% and 47%. This is smaller than the projected growth in the total number of households (49% to 51%). This difference is accounted for by higher rates of increase in non-family households, particularly lone person households.

Graph Image for 5.1 Projected number of families, Australia


COUPLE FAMILIES (with or without children)

The number of couple families without children is projected to increase by between 56% and 64% over 2011-2036, while the number of couple families with children is projected to increase by 21% to 40%.The number of couple families without children is projected to overtake the number of couple families with children and become the most common family type in Australia, in either 2029 (Series II) or 2023 (Series III). In Series I, couple families with children remain the most common family type. The growth in the number of couple only families is primarily related to the ageing of the population, with baby boomers becoming 'empty nesters' as their children leave home.

Graph Image for 5.2 Couple families, with and without children (series II)



ONE PARENT FAMILIES

The number of one-parent families is projected to increase by 47% to 70%, from 1.0 million to between 1.5 and 1.7 million. In 2011, 83% of one-parent families were headed by a female. This ratio is projected to remain at a similar level between 2011 and 2036 (falling slightly to between 81% and 82%).

Graph Image for 5.3 One parent families (series II)


FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN

In this release, couple families with children and one-parent families can include children of any age. They may be families containing young dependent children, students or adult children, while in some families an adult child may be living as a carer for an elderly parent. According to the 2011 Census, around 69% of couple families with children included at least one child aged under 15 years. Among one-parent families, this proportion was lower - around 52%.


As at 30 June
2011
2016
2021
2026
2031
2036
Family type
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000

SERIES I

Couple families with children
2 712.3
2 925.5
3 156.4
3 382.4
3 595.5
3 795.4
Couple families without children
2 328.5
2 614.5
2 892.0
3 148.1
3 392.3
3 638.0
One-parent families
992.4
1 076.7
1 167.4
1 264.2
1 364.4
1 461.5
Male parent
173.6
188.6
204.6
222.0
240.6
258.9
Female parent
818.8
888.1
962.9
1042.2
1 123.9
1 202.6
Other families
111.0
120.3
128.8
137.5
147.7
158.3
Total
6 144.1
6 737.0
7 344.6
7932.3
8 499.9
9 053.1

SERIES II

Couple families with children
2 712.3
2 844.5
3 026.2
3 223.4
3 430.9
3 624.8
Couple families without children
2 328.5
2 632.9
2 929.5
3 202.2
3 453.7
3 703.9
One-parent families
992.4
1 107.6
1 216.3
1 326.1
1 432.9
1 537.0
Male parent
173.6
197.7
219.0
240.1
260.3
280.6
Female parent
818.8
909.9
997.3
1 086.0
1 172.7
1 256.5
Other families
111.0
118.4
125.4
132.5
141.5
151.3
Total
6 144.1
6 703.5
7 297.4
7 884.2
8 459.0
9 016.9

SERIES III

Couple families with children
2 712.3
2 844.5
2 982.3
3 107.5
3 212.8
3 295.0
Couple families without children
2 328.5
2 632.9
2 941.8
3 239.5
3 528.3
3 817.7
One-parent families
992.4
1 107.6
1 233.3
1 372.7
1 527.1
1 689.0
Male parent
173.6
197.7
223.9
253.0
285.5
320.3
Female parent
818.8
909.9
1 009.4
1 119.7
1 241.7
1 368.7
Other families
111.0
118.4
124.5
130.3
137.2
145.1
Total
6 144.1
6 703.5
7 281.9
7 850.0
8 405.4
8 946.7