25 July 2025
New data published this week by the Office for National Statistics’ Labour Force Survey showed that “One third (33.7%) of men aged between 20 and 34 years lived with their parent(s) in 2024, compared with less than a quarter (22.1%) of women.”
Exclusive analysis of historic ONS data by the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys dating back to 1996 (see Figure 1 below), shows there has been increase over time for both males and females.
Taking the 25-year view since 1999, shows that:
- The percentage of 20-34 year-old men living at home has increased from 25.8% in 1999 to 33.7% in 2024 – a 31% increase and a 664,000 increase in total. There are 2.2 million young men living at home with their parents.
- The percentage of 20-34 year-old women living at home has increased from 13.6% in 1999 to 22.1% in 2024 – a 63% increase and a 561,000 increase in total. There are 1.4 million young women living at home with their parents.
- The ONS suggests that the numbers for men and women could be due to housing affordability. However, this is an issue for men and women so there is likely to be a lot more behind that including ages that long-term relationships start, gender pay-gap (young women up to 24 earn more than young men), less young men going to university so are more used to living at home, perhaps barriers from landlords not wanting groups of men to rent. An area worthy of greater research.