In Germany, for example, approximately 17.3 million people lived alone in 2025. This represented just over one in five people (20.9%). This figure has increased significantly over the past 20 years, rising 22.3% since 2005. This trend is also evident in other countries, particularly Nordic European nations, as well as the United States and Japan.
Comment from the IBN: This ongoing trend should be halted for social reasons, as well as due to the associated high energy consumption and living space requirements. For example, two single-person households usually require more energy and living space than a two-person household. To achieve this, we need modern cohousing concepts that allow for both privacy and community.
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