Seamus Kirk
Question:42 Mr. Kirk asked the Taoiseach the average family size in Ireland for every tenth year from 1921 to date. [6454/95]
Written Answers. - Average Family Size.
A series on average family size is only available from 1981 onwards. The information requested for 1981, 1986 and 1991 is as follows:
|
Census Year |
Average Family |
|
1981 |
4.09 |
|
1986 |
4.03 |
|
1991 |
3.86 |
A longer time series showing average persons per private household is available from 1926 and is given in the following table:
|
Census Year |
Average Persons |
|
1926 |
4.48 |
|
1936 |
4.31 |
|
1946 |
4.16 |
|
1961 |
3.97 |
|
1966 |
4.01 |
|
1971 |
3.94 |
|
1979 |
3.73 |
|
1981 |
3.68 |
|
1986 |
3.54 |
|
1991 |
3.34 |
Notes:
(1) a family unit is:
(a) A husband and wife (or couple); or
(b) a husband and wife (or couple) together with one or more usually resident single children (of any age);
or
(c) one parent together with one or more usually resident single children (of any age).
(2) The figures in the table refer to private households in permanent housing units. A private household is defined as a group of persons living together (usually but not necessarily related), jointly occupying the whole or part of a private dwelling house, flat or temporary dwelling and sharing a common budget.