Average family size in the U.S. 1960-2022 | Statista (2024)

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What was the average family size in 1960 in America? ›

The number of households in the United States in 1960 was 53.0 million. The average size of household was 3.29 persons. This figure includes the head, his wife (if any), and the children, other relatives, and nonrelatives of the head who live in the same housing unit as the head.

How have American households changed? In 1960, households with married parents represented over 44% of all American households, while slightly over 13% were single with no children. Today, that's inverted — in 2022, single people living alone and married couples without children outnumbered married-parent households.

There was an average of 3.51 people per household in 1950, substantially higher than the average of 2.61 in 2019. One factor: Fewer people lived alone. In 1950 just 9% of households had someone living alone compared with 28% in 2019.

In the 1950s, the average newly-built American home had 983 square feet of floor space with an average household size of 3.37 people. That's 292 square feet per person. In the 1960s, the average new home size grew to 1,200 square feet and housed 3.33 residents according to census data.

The average (median) money income of families in the United States was $5,600 in 1960, according to estimates released today by the Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. This was about $200, or 4 percent, higher than in 1959, despite the downturn in economic activity in the closing months of 1960.

Looking at the broader population, the ideal family is around 2.5 children, which is a number that is up a little from the 1990s but has scarcely changed over the last 5 decades.

The size of the average U.S. family — defined as people related by birth, marriage or adoption who live together — is now around three people, down from almost four in 1960. Sociologists suggested these trends may be attributed, in large part, to financial concerns.

Following is the average family size in the United States for selected years since 1940: 1987, 3.19; 1986, 3.21; 1985, 3.23; 1980, 3.29; 1975 3.42; 1970, 3.58; 1965, 3.70; 1960, 3.67; 1955, 3.59; 1950, 3.54; 1940 3.76.

The average household size for the U.S. in 2022 is 2.6 people per household. It is calculated by dividing the household population by total households. The pop-up is configured to include the following information for each geography level: Average Household Size.

In the 1950's American homes were traditionally comprised of a mother and a father and their children. The father went to work, and the mother stayed home to take care of the children.

What was the average family in the 1940s? ›

The typical American picture of a family with 2.5 kids might not be as relevant as it once was: In 2023, there was an average of 1.94 children under 18 per family in the United States. This is a decrease from 2.33 children under 18 per family in 1960. If there's one thing the United States is known for, it's diversity.

Where the typical American mother bore 7 children in 1800, the average number of children had fallen to three-and-a-half in 1900. And instead of giving birth to her last child at the age of 40 or later, by 1900 the typical American woman bore her last child at the age of 33.

The average number of people per household was 5.55 in 1850, 5.04 in 1880, 4.76 in 1900 and 4.54 in 1910. It declined to 4.34 in 1920, 4.11 in 1930, 3.67 in 1940, 3.37 in 1950 and 3.33 in 1960. The Census Bureau projects that the average will continue declining, to 2.48 in the year 2000, from the current 2.67.

Following is the average family size in the United States for selected years since 1940: 1987, 3.19; 1986, 3.21; 1985, 3.23; 1980, 3.29; 1975 3.42; 1970, 3.58; 1965, 3.70; 1960, 3.67; 1955, 3.59; 1950, 3.54; 1940 3.76.

Up to 1965 the average woman in the world had more than 5 children. Since then, we have seen an unprecedented change. The number has halved. Globally, the average per woman is now below 2.5 children.

The average number of people per household was 5.55 in 1850, 5.04 in 1880, 4.76 in 1900 and 4.54 in 1910. It declined to 4.34 in 1920, 4.11 in 1930, 3.67 in 1940, 3.37 in 1950 and 3.33 in 1960.