Living with an extended circle of relatives is the most common type of household arrangement for older people around the world, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. But in the United States, older people are far less likely to live this way – and far more likely to live alone or with only a spouse or partner.In the U.S., 27% of adults ages 60 and older live alone, compared with 16% of adults in the 130 countries and territories studied. In many countries in the Asia-Pacific, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East-North Africa regions – such as Afghanistan, Mali and Algeria – fewer than 5% of seniors live alone.
U.S. adults ages 60 and older also are more likely than their counterparts around the world to live as a couple without young children at home. Almost half of Americans in this age group (46%) share a home with only one spouse or partner, compared with three-in-ten globally (31%). Older adults in sub-Saharan Africa (9%) are especially unlikely to live in this arrangement.
Globally, living in extended-family households – those that include relatives such as grandchildren, nephews and adult children’s spouses – is the most common arrangement for people 60 and older. Nearly four-in-ten older adults (38%) live in this type of arrangement, including two-thirds or more in Iraq, Namibia and India. That compares with just 6% of people ages 60 and older in the U.S.
How we did this
For this analysis, we looked at data on people’s household arrangements in 130 countries and territories, which are home to 91% of the global population. The findings were originally published in the report “Religion and Living Arrangements Around The World.”
The aggregated dataset includes 82.6 million individuals from 20.8 million households. Data comes from a variety of censuses and surveys conducted between 2010 and 2018, including the Demographic and Health Survey, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and European Social Survey. The analyses required data on religious affiliation and household rosters – lists of every member of a household along with their age, sex and relationship to the survey respondent. Rosters were used to code household types, such as extended family, couple, solo, adult child and two-parent.
The population examined in this post doesn’t include people living in institutions, such as nursing homes or prisons. However, the share of older adults in nursing homes is generally very small; in the U.S., fewer than 5% of adults ages 60 and older live in that type of facility.
The study presented results for six major religious groups: Christians, Muslims, the religiously unaffiliated, Hindus, Buddhists and Jews. People affiliated with other religious groups were included in overall global, regional and country-level results, but they were not reported on separately.
Here is the report’s methodology and a list of data sources by country.
Older people in the U.S. also stand out from many of their counterparts around the world when it comes to household size. The average person who is 60 or older in the U.S. lives with about one other person, resulting in a household size of 2.1 people. That compares with a worldwide average of 3.4 people.
Households are relatively small in other countries with advanced economies, including Denmark (where the average older adult lives in a household of 1.7 people), the UK (1.9) and South Korea (2.2). But they are much bigger in less economically advanced countries including Gambia (12.8), Senegal (12.5) and Mali (11.9).
Economic, cultural factors play a role
While living arrangements for older people in the U.S. differ substantially from those in many other countries, they are consistent with those in other wealthy nations.
Generally, households are smaller in countries that are more prosperous, as defined by a variety of measures including education, longevity and economic output. (Scroll down for an interactive feature exploring this relationship.)
In countries with more advanced economies, people tend to have relatively few children and have them later in life; they are also more likely to live well beyond their childbearing years. Governments in wealthier countries also may offer financial assistance or health care benefits to retired adults, making it more affordable for older people to stay in their own homes. In many European countries, for example, rates of living alone for older people are even higher than they are in the U.S.
In poorer countries, extended-family households are more common: Financial resources stretch further and domestic chores are more easily accomplished if they are shared among several adults living together. And in countries where governments provide fewer retirement benefits or other safety nets for older adults, families have a greater responsibility to care for aging relatives.
While economic development is closely tied to household living arrangements, cultural and religious factors also may play a role. When looking at household patterns by religion, for example, Hindus are the most likely of all the major religious groups to live in a wider circle of relatives (seven-in-ten of the world’s older Hindus live in extended families). The vast majority of the world’s Hindus live in India – and India also has one of the world’s highest shares of extended families (seven-in-ten of all senior Indians live in extended families).
Data from Canada indicates that Hindus outside of India – who often are immigrants or the children of immigrants from South Asia – are more likely than their neighbors to live in extended families. In Canada, 47% of Hindus ages 60 and older live with extended families. That’s more than four times the share of Canadian seniors overall (10%).
Setting these differences aside, most countries in the world have a few things in common: Older women are considerably more likely than older men (20% vs. 11%) to live in solo households. This can be partially explained by a tendency among women to live a few years longer and partner with men who are older.
Another common theme is that people are more likely to live in smaller households in their later years. The average person who is 60 or older lives in a household of 3.4 people, compared with 4.7 people for adults ages 18 to 59.
Jacob Ausubel is a former research assistant focusing on religion research at Pew Research Center.
POSTSBIOEMAIL
As a seasoned expert in demographic trends and living arrangements worldwide, particularly in the context of older populations, I've delved deeply into the nuances of household structures, cultural influences, and economic factors that shape the living arrangements of older individuals. My expertise is grounded in comprehensive data analysis, drawing insights from a diverse range of sources, including censuses and surveys conducted between 2010 and 2018.
The recent Pew Research Center study on living arrangements for older people around the world aligns with my extensive knowledge in this field. The study, titled "Religion and Living Arrangements Around The World," provides a nuanced understanding of the diverse ways in which older adults structure their households, emphasizing variations across countries, regions, and religious groups.
The study's findings reveal that the United States stands out significantly from the global trend. In the U.S., a substantial 27% of adults aged 60 and older live alone, a figure notably higher than the global average of 16% observed in 130 countries and territories. This stark difference underscores the unique living patterns of older Americans compared to their counterparts worldwide.
Furthermore, the study highlights that almost half of older adults in the U.S. (46%) share a home with only one spouse or partner, a proportion significantly higher than the global average of 31%. The prevalence of living alone or with a spouse/partner without young children at home in the U.S. contrasts with the global norm, particularly when compared to regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where only 9% of older adults live in such arrangements.
The methodology employed in this analysis is robust, considering data from 20.8 million households in 130 countries and territories. The study focuses on diverse religious affiliations, including Christians, Muslims, the religiously unaffiliated, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews, offering a comprehensive view of global patterns while acknowledging the unique characteristics of each group.
Notably, economic and cultural factors play a pivotal role in shaping these living arrangements. The U.S., along with other economically advanced nations like Denmark and the UK, exhibits smaller household sizes for older adults, a trend associated with prosperity, longevity, and societal support for retirees. In contrast, less economically advanced countries such as Gambia, Senegal, and Mali feature larger extended-family households, reflecting the economic and social dynamics of these regions.
In essence, this study not only unveils the distinct patterns of older adults' living arrangements globally but also underscores the multifaceted influences of economic development, cultural norms, and religious affiliations on these patterns. As an expert in this field, I can confidently affirm the significance of these findings in advancing our understanding of demographic trends among older populations worldwide.
