Household crowding

Age differences

Children and young people under the age of 25 are significantly more likely to experience household crowding than older age groups. 

In 2006, 17 percent of youth aged 15 to 24 lived in crowded households, compared to 2.5 percent of people aged 65 years and over.

Proportion of population living in households requiring one or more additional bedrooms, by age group, 1986-2006
  Age group (%)
  0-9 10 14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65+ Total
1986 17.5 17.3 21.3 10.8 7.1 2.1 12.8
1991 17.6 16.9 19.1 10.5 6.2 2.1 11.8
1996 18.1 15.4 16.5 10.1 5.4 2.1 10.9
2001 17.1 14.8 15.7 9.4 5.0 2.4 10.1
2006 17.2 15.3 17.0 9.8 5.4 2.5 10.4

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census.