Why More Aussies Are Living Alone — And What It Means for the Future

Demographics Decoded - Unveiling the trends shaping your future

What if I told you that one of the most significant demographic shifts shaping our cities, our housing markets, and even our social lives over the next few decades… isn’t migration, isn’t birth rates, and isn’t ageing?

It’s something far more personal. In today’s show, we’re talking about a silent revolution - the rise of the single-person household.

More Australians than ever are living alone, and it’s not just retirees or Gen Zs in tiny apartments.

From the newly single at 54 to the solo 29-year-old navigating life on their terms, this trend is redrawing the blueprint of modern life and reshaping the housing market in a way most people aren't even noticing.

Our conversation highlights how modern living is evolving, with more individuals choosing to live alone and the need for appropriate housing solutions to accommodate these changes.

Takeaways

· The rise of single-person households is a significant demographic shift.

· Single living is reshaping housing markets and consumer products.

· Demographic changes are leading to increased loneliness among some individuals.

· International students primarily occupy single-person housing markets.

· Older generations are increasingly living alone due to the loss of partners.

· Housing policies need to adapt to the growing number of single households.

· The trend of marrying later in life contributes to more single-person households.

· Communal living arrangements are becoming more desirable but challenging to manage.

· The housing market is affected by the influx of single migrants.

· Understanding demographics is crucial for future planning and investment.

Chapters

00:00 The Rise of Single-Person Households

05:12 Demographic Shifts and Their Implications

10:36 International Students and Housing Market Dynamics

13:28 Loneliness and Mental Health in Solo Living

16:25 Modern Life and Individualism

About Simon Kuestenmacher

Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group

Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.

He ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can’t get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on Linked In or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels.

Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others.

About Michael Yardney

Michael Yardney - founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders.

While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia’s leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.

Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.

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