Single people now make up more than 90% of households in most cities and towns, which is ten times more than in the early 1990s. The Planning Bureau predicts that by 2070, over 40% of households in the country will be those living alone. Of those living alone, individuals aged 65 and over make up the largest group at 38%. The number of married couples with children living under the same roof is decreasing. These changes are not happening at the same rate everywhere. In the Brussels-Capital Region, the proportion of isolated individuals has decreased since the 1990s, but the absolute number has increased. In Wallonia, the share of one-person households has increased from less than 30% in the early 1990s to 37% last year. By 2070, the proportion of single individuals in Wallonia is expected to exceed that of the Brussels Region. In Flanders, a quarter of households were single-person in 1992, which has since increased to one in three.
In more than 90% of cities and towns, single people are now the most common type of household. This is ten times more than at the beginning of the 1990s. The Planning Bureau predicts that by 2070, the group of people living alone will represent more than four out of ten households in our country. With a share of 38%, the largest group of people living alone are those aged 65 and over. It is above all the share of married couples with children living under the same roof that is shrinking. But this evolution of households is far from taking place at the same pace everywhere. In the Brussels-Capital Region, compared to the 1990s, the proportion of isolated people has decreased there, even if, in absolute figures, they are more numerous. In Wallonia, the share of one-person households has increased even more markedly: from less than 30% at the beginning of the 1990s, it rose to 37% last year. The proportion of isolated people in Wallonia will even exceed that of the Brussels Region by 2070. In Flanders, a quarter of households were still made up of just one person in 1992; on three.
As the number of one-person households continues to rise, it’s important for policymakers and communities to consider the unique challenges and opportunities that come with this demographic shift. From providing housing options that cater to single people to addressing social isolation, there’s much to be done to ensure that everyone can thrive in our changing society. Whether you’re living alone or with others, we can all work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone to call home.