More than a third of households (35.2 per cent) were single-person households. Over a decade, the proportion of such households increased slightly (in 2011, 31.7 per cent). (Fig. 4). Over a decade, the proportion of households consisting of two persons remained almost unchanged (in 2011, 28.3 per cent) and remained higher than a quarter – 28.4 per cent. The proportion of large households (those consisting of five and more persons) has not changed substantially over the decade as well. Such households account for 6 per cent of all households (in 2011, 6.3 per cent).

Fig. 4. Households by size in urban and rural areas, per cent

More than a third (35.5 per cent) of single-person households consisted of persons aged 70 and older. 39.1 per cent of households with five and more inhabitants and over a third (35.9 per cent) of households with four inhabitants consisted of persons aged 0–19.

The proportion of a single-person households exceeds 40 per cent in twelve municipalities, more than half of them – in Northeast Lithuania – Ignalina, Zarasai, Anykščiai, Kupiškis, Rokiškis, Biržai and Molėtai districts’ municipalities. The largest number of households consisting of five and more persons was recorded in two municipalities – Vilnius and Klaipėda district municipalities (more than 10 per cent in each).

Households are mainly comprised of spouses and children

The Population and Housing Census reveals that households are mostly comprised of spouses – 41.3 per cent (1 million 150 thousand), and children – 29.3 per cent (816.3 thousand). Persons living alone account for a significant proportion – 15.3 per cent (427.3 thousand), cohabitants and single parents with children account for smaller proportion – 5.2 per cent (144.6 thousand) and 5.7 per cent (158.9 thousand) respectively.  Other persons account for only 3.2 per cent (87.2 thousand). (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Population by marital status in household, per cent

The Census reveals several differences in marital status in households by sex. Among men, there are more married persons (44.6 per cent), children (34.7 per cent) and cohabitants (5.6 per cent), compared to women – 38.5, 24.6 and 4.8 per cent respectively. However, among women, there are more persons living alone (18.3 per cent), single mothers with children (9.6 per cent) and other persons (4.1 per cent), compared to men – 11.9, 1.2 and 2 per cent respectively.

Average family – 3 persons

In 2021, the number of families (family households) amounted to 781 thousand, in 2011 – 861.4 thousand. Over a decade, the number of families decreased by 10.5 per cent.

In Lithuania, there were 310.7 thousand (34.3 per cent of all families) families with children under 18 (in 2011, 362.7 thousand or 42.1 per cent). The proportion of one of parents with children under 18 grew from 15.8 per cent in 2011 to 15.8 per cent in 2021. 

Over a decade, an increase in the proportion of families with two and three children was observed (Fig. 6). According to the Census data, 53.5 per cent of the families had one child, 37.6 per cent – two children, 8.9 per cent – three and more children (in 2011, 58.2, 33.7 and 8.1 per cent respectively).

Fig. 6. Families with children under 18 by the number of children in 2011 and 2021, per cent

The average size of a family decreased from 3.03 persons in 2011 to 3 persons in 2021. In rural areas, the average family is larger than in urban areas – 3.1 and 2.9 persons respectively.

In 25 municipalities, the average size of a family was above the national average. The largest families were in Vilnius (3.32), Klaipėda (3.23), Kaunas (3.23), Šilalė (3.19) districts’ municipalities, the smallest – in Panevėžys (2.86), Alytus (2.86) and Visaginas (2.68) municipalities. Over a decade, average family in Vilnius city municipality increased and amounted to 3.01 persons (in 2011, 2.98 persons).

The vast majority of the population live in private housing

In 2021, 1 million 109.5 thousand (91.3 per cent) households lived in their own dwellings. 36.1 thousand (3 per cent) of households lived in rented accommodation. 69.7 thousand (5.7 per cent) of households lived in housing of other status (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7. Households by housing status, per cent

The trends observed in urban and rural areas are broadly in line with the general trends. In urban areas, 3.2 per cent of households lived in rented accommodation, 5.5 per cent – in dwellings of other housing status, in rural areas – 2.3 and 6.3 per cent respectively.

More information on the issue is available in the Database of Indicators.