Kiwi household numbers growing

In Auckland, the number of households between 2013 and 2038 is projected to go from approximately 500,000 to 750,000 households. Photo / Doug Sherring

An ageing population and changes in family structure will contribute to a huge jump in the number of Kiwi households in the next 20 years.

Statistics New Zealand has today released new information on the number of different households around the country, based on subnational family and household projections in 2013.

In Auckland, the number of households between 2013 and 2038 is projected to go from approximately 500,000 to 750,000 households. Those Auckland-based households is projected to account for about half of the national growth of households during that time.

In Wellington city, the projected number of households grows from about 75,000 two years ago to just over 90,000 in 2038.

Households in Christchurch city are estimated to reach around 173,000, compared to 138,000 two years ago.

Statistics NZ's Vina Cullum said there would be marked changes in the household make-up over the next few years.

"There will be more one-person households and family households will be smaller in most areas," she said.

"These trends are driven mainly by the ageing of our population."

Statistics NZ said the average family size was expected to decline over the next few years, thanks to a large number of families made up of couples with no children and a decrease in the number of two-parent households.

Overall, couples without children are projected to increase the fastest over the next 20 or so years.

In Auckland, families made up of couples without children increases from almost 150,000 in 2013 to just over 232,000 in 2038.