A demographic and socio-economic portrait of one-person households in Sweden during the 1930s

This study examines the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of one-person households (OPHs) in Sweden during its transition to an industrial society. Although 25 per cent of adults in Sweden live alone today, only 5.3 per cent did so in 1930. Using census data and logistic regression, we analyse how age, sex, migration background, civil status, education, income, occupation, and geography were associated with OPH living. Education and income showed clear associations, with higher probabilities among individuals belonging to the educational elite. Income effects differed by sex: positive for women but negative for men unless civil status was controlled for. Occupational patterns were substantial and independent of education and income. Our results show that white-collar, middle-class professionals engaged in intellectual work formed the avant-garde in solo living, with cultural capital and occupational norms playing a central role. Identifying these early adopters provides insights into how new demographic behaviours emerged and diffused during periods of socio-economic transformation.