Household Type
type: Dataset
description: This dataset contains information on the number ('count') of households of different types in Scotland. Households are described as different 'types' based on the number of adults and children. The types of household included in this dataset are: one female adult living alone; one male adult living alone; two adults without children; one adult with one child; one adult with two or more children; two or more adults with one or more children; and three or more adults without children. The figures for 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 are from Scotland's Census. Estimates from 2002 onwards are based on the proportion of households of each type from the Scottish Household Survey (SHS). More information about the Scottish Household Survey is available on the [Scottish Government website](http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/16002). The estimates of the number of households of each type obtained from the SHS are adjusted so that the total number of households is equal to the NRS mid-year household estimate figure in each year ([Mid-Year Household Estimate](http://statistics.gov.scot/data/mid-year-household-estimates)). Adjustments are also made to account for differences between the distributions of household types taken from Scotland's Census 2001 and 2011 and from the 2001 and 2011 SHS. This is to account for any biases in the SHS data introduced as a result of some household types being more likely to take part in the survey than others. For full details of the methods used see the 'Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland' publications on the [National Records of Scotland (NRS) website](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/households/household-estimates).
issued: 2026-08-13T11:59:29.585520
modified: 2026-08-13T12:00:45.856620
version notes: A revision was made on numbers from 2012 - 2015 to reflect more accurate data on student accommodations. The resulting decrease in the household estimates is less than 1.5% A correction was made to the percentages of households of each type for each year from 2000 to 2013, in the 'Estimates of households and dwellings in Scotland, 2015' publication. More details, can be found in the Background Information section of this publication. Revisions and corrections to previously published estimates are dealt with in accordance with the Scottish Government Statistician Group corporate policy statement on revisions and corrections - a copy of which is available on the Scottish Government website.
contact point: Organization
contact point: Kind
theme: Housing
accuracy: Household numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000. Totals may not equal the sum of their parts or exactly match the mid-year household estimates as a result of this rounding. Percentages of households of different types are calculated before rounding. For the 1981 Census, 'households with children' included children aged 0-15. For the 1991, 2001 and 2011 Censuses, the definition of a dependent child also included those aged 16-18 in full-time education.
comment: The number of households of different types in Scotland (i.e. 2 adult household)
completeness: It is the policy of the NRS to make its website and products accessible according to published guidelines. More information is available in the Accessibility section of the NRS website.
confidentiality: This dataset does not contain any directly identifiable personal information.
consistency: The statistics are also provided in Excel, PDF and CSV formats on the NRS website. They are designed to be consistent, and incorporate comparable historical data where appropriate.
geographical coverage: S92
license id: uk-ogl
next update: 2023-06-01
quality management: Estimates are compared with earlier years' data to identify any potential issues.
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2019
  start date: 1981
timeliness: Between censuses, data is received from Council Tax billing systems on the first Monday of September each year and used to estimate the number of households, which is published the following summer. Household type is later estimated using the published household estimate and the Scottish Household Survey, and published the following summer. For example, household type estimates for 2015 were published in summer 2017.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: The statistics are mainly used for informing Councils' decisions about housing need and service provision. They are also used as the denominator for other statistics (e.g. the percentage of households receiving benefits).
will be updated: true

household-type.csv
type: Distribution
description: Data file for Household Type
format: CSV
issued: 2026-08-13T12:00:45.865569
modified: 2026-08-13T12:00:45.861939
table schema: Schema
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: GeographyCode
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: Units
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: Household Type
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: GeographyType
  column: Column
    datatype: int
    name: DateCode
  column: Column
    datatype: int
    name: Value
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: GeographyName
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: Measurement
access URL: https://admin.data.gov.scot/resource/98ae9311-c25d-4696-ab21-637638c19588/download
comment: The number of households of different types in Scotland (i.e. 2 adult household)
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: DateCode
  type: int
dictionary: Column
  column: Value
  type: int
dictionary: Column
  column: Household Type
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text

National Records of Scotland
type: Agent

Housing
type: Concept