An aging population, migration to large cities and changing lifestyles are leading to an increase in the number of single-person households. In a comment for Forbes, Olga Soldatkina, expert at the Gaidar Institute explained how this trend is affecting the housing market and consumer habits.
According to an economist, the prevalence of single-person households is driven by an aging population, urbanization and increased social mobility. Elderly people are more likely to live apart from their children, while young people move to large cities for education or work. Furthermore, individuals are changing their places of residence and household composition more frequently. For example, in 2024, 52% of households in Moscow consisted of one person.
The market is responding to these changes: the supply of small apartments and studios is growing, and new products and services tailored to those living alone are emerging. Nevertheless, living together still offers savings on groceries, housing and utility costs.
“A solitary lifestyle, whether forced or voluntary, establishes new consumer patterns to which the market is responding with a growing number of offerings tailored for individuals living alone. At the same time, the economic benefits of living together remain, primarily owing to economies of scale,” Olga Soldatkina noted
According to Olga Soldatkina, the number of single-person households will keep rising, primarily due to an aging population. At the same time, high inflation and the unaffordability of mortgages may temper this trend, as people will be more inclined to find ways to share housing costs, for instance, by renting an apartment together.