Average size of households in Italy 2023, by region

Households in Italy are larger in the south than in the north of the country. In Campania, the average size of households was of 2.6 people in 2023, with an increase compared to 2022, while in Marche, Apulia, and Sicily households had about 2.4 members. Trentino-South Tyrol and Veneto were the only northern regions ranging in the top-10. However, in recent years, the average number of people per household decreased in Italy. Between 2010 and 2024, the mean size of families ranged from 2.41 to 2.3 components.

Structure of Italian families

Nationwide, 35 percent of the households consisted of families without a nucleus, such as people living alone, families consisting of two siblings, or a parent living with a child who is separated, widowed or divorced. Furthermore, couples with children made up 31 percent of all households in Italy, representing the second most common household structure. While the average size of families experienced a decrease, one/single person households were on the rise. In 2022, there were 8.36 million single-person households in Italy, almost one million more than in 2012.

More babies in the south

Analyzing the birth rate in the Italian macro-regions could be useful to better understand the size of the households. In the south and on the islands, the birth rate was higher than in any other area of the country. In 2023, the Southern regions recorded a birth rate of 7 babies per 1,000 inhabitants. Similarly, on the islands, there were 6.7 births per 1,000 residents. However, on a national scale, the births dropped constantly in the last years. In 2023, 6.4 children were born every 1,000 inhabitants, three infants less than in 2002.