Number of households in Singapore 2015-2024, by size

In 2024, 2-person households made up the majority in Singapore, with about 343,700 such households. As with the rest of the world, household sizes in Singapore were becoming smaller, while household numbers were increasing. This would inevitably put a strain on Singapore’s limited resources. 

The average Singapore household

In 2024, the average Singapore household was made up of 3.09 persons, with an average monthly income of 4,898 Singapore dollars per household member. The large majority of these households lived in Housing Development Board (HDB) apartments, the majority of which were owned by the head(s) of household.

More households, more resources

Between 2015 and 2024, the number of households in Singapore increased by 230,000. The increase in household numbers was a result of a decrease in household sizes - fewer people were sharing the same dwelling. This in turn leads to inefficient use of resources such as housing and electricity. From 2015, the number of HDB apartment units being built increased year-on-year. Household energy consumption in Singapore had been increasing since 2012 and is likely to continue increasing in the future. With limited land and resources, Singapore might face a problem to accommodate its rising number of small households.