The average American family in 2022 consisted of 3.13 persons.
Families in the United States
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a family is a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family.
As of 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau counted about 83.9 million families in the United States. The average family consisted of 3.13 persons in 2021, down from 3.7 in the 1960s. This is reflected in the decrease of children in family households overall. In 1970, about 56 percent of all family households had children under the age of 18 living in the household. This percentage declined to about 40 percent in 2020.
The average size of a family household varies greatly from state to state. The largest average families can be found in Utah and Hawaii, with an average of 3.61 members respectively. The smallest families can be found in Vermont and Maine, with an average size of 2.88 and 2.85 members respectively.
Average number of people per family in the United States from 1960 to 2022
Characteristic
Average number of people per family
2022
3.13
2021
3.13
2020
3.15
2019
3.14
2018
3.14
2017
3.14
2016
3.14
2015
3.14
2014
3.13
2013
3.12
2012
3.13
2011
3.18
2010
3.16
2009
3.15
2008
3.15
2007
3.13
2006
3.13
2005
3.13
2004
3.13
2003
3.13
2002
3.15
2001
3.14
2000
3.17
1999
3.18
1998
3.18
1997
3.19
1996
3.2
1995
3.19
1994
3.2
1993
3.16
1992
3.17
1991
3.18
1990
3.17
1989
3.16
1988
3.17
1987
3.19
1986
3.21
1985
3.23
1984
3.24
1983
3.26
1982
3.25
1981
3.27
1980
3.29
1979
3.31
1978
3.33
1977
3.37
1976
3.39
1975
3.42
1974
3.44
1973
3.48
1972
3.53
1971
3.57
1970
3.58
1960
3.67
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US Census Bureau. (November 17, 2022). Average number of people per family in the United States from 1960 to 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 27, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/183657/average-size-of-a-family-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Average number of people per family in the United States from 1960 to 2022." Chart. November 17, 2022. Statista. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/183657/average-size-of-a-family-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. (2022). Average number of people per family in the United States from 1960 to 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/183657/average-size-of-a-family-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Average Number of People per Family in The United States from 1960 to 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Nov 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/183657/average-size-of-a-family-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, Average number of people per family in the United States from 1960 to 2022 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/183657/average-size-of-a-family-in-the-us/ (last visited July 27, 2024)
Average number of people per family in the United States from 1960 to 2022 [Graph], US Census Bureau, November 17, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/183657/average-size-of-a-family-in-the-us/