Seniors Living Alone: Australia vs Singapore vs New Zealand (2026 Data)
A quarter of older New Zealanders live alone: 25.3% of people aged 65+, or 192,201 people (Stats NZ 2023 Census). In Australia, 31% of older women and 18% of older men live alone (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS), while in Singapore about 10% of residents aged 60+ live alone (MOH citing SingStat Census 2020). The bases differ by country, but the pattern is shared.
Last updated: June 2026
Overview: how many seniors live alone in Australia, Singapore and New Zealand?
Across Australia, Singapore and New Zealand, a substantial share of older adults live by themselves, but each national statistics agency measures it on a slightly different basis. The clearest single headline is New Zealand's: 25.3%, roughly one in four people aged 65 and over, live alone, equal to 192,201 people (Stats NZ 2023 Census). Australia reports living alone split by sex rather than as one 65+ figure: 31% of older women and 18% of older men live alone, with women making up 62% of everyone aged 55+ who lives alone (ABS Census 2021, via the Australian Institute of Family Studies). Singapore's cleanest official figure uses a 60+ cut rather than 65+: about 10%, or roughly 88,000 residents aged 60 and over, lived alone (Singapore's Ministry of Health citing the SingStat Census 2020). Because Singapore headlines at 60+ while Australia and New Zealand headline at 65+, the three percentages are not directly comparable as a single ranked number, and we flag that basis difference in every table below. What does hold across all three countries is the underlying reality: a large and growing group of older adults live in a home where no one else is present to notice if something goes wrong.
Key statistics
These figures are drawn from the Tier-1 national sources for each country: the Australian Bureau of Statistics (via AIFS), Singapore's Ministry of Health citing SingStat, and Stats NZ. Read the percentages alongside their age basis, because Singapore's headline is for residents aged 60+ while Australia and New Zealand report aged 65+.
Seniors living alone by country: the flagship comparison
This table lines up the three countries on the same set of living-alone metrics. The critical caveat is the age basis: Singapore's official living-alone headline is cleanest at 60+, while Australia and New Zealand report at 65+. We therefore do not present a single ranked percentage; instead each cell carries its national source and year. Australia reports its headline split by sex (31% of older women, 18% of older men) rather than as one combined 65+ rate, so an AU combined 65+ percentage and an AU count of people 65+ living alone are not in the verified set and are shown as 'not directly comparable / VERIFY'. Likewise, Singapore's count of one-person households across all ages and Singapore's 85+ living-alone count are flagged for verification rather than guessed.
Older adults living alone — Australia, Singapore, New Zealand
| Metric | Australia | Singapore | New Zealand | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Older people living alone (headline) | 31% of older women / 18% of older men (women = 62% of 55+ living alone) | ~10% of residents aged 60+ (60+ basis, not 65+) | 25.3% of people aged 65+ (~1 in 4) | AU: ABS Census 2021 via AIFS · SG: MOH citing SingStat Census 2020 · NZ: Stats NZ 2023 Census |
| Count of seniors living alone | not directly comparable / VERIFY (ABS Census 2021 TableBuilder) | ~88,000 residents aged 60+ | 192,201 people aged 65+ (49.4% of all who live alone) | SG: MOH citing SingStat Census 2020 · NZ: Stats NZ 2023 Census |
| Lone-person households (all ages) | 26% of all households (55% women) | not directly comparable / VERIFY (SingStat Table Builder) | 389,352 = 22.8% of all households (57.4% are women) | AU: ABS Census 2021 via AIFS · NZ: Stats NZ 2023 Census |
| Living alone at 85+ | 35% of people aged 85+ (most likely age group) | not directly comparable / VERIFY (SingStat dataset) | not directly comparable / VERIFY (Stats NZ custom table) | AU: ABS Census 2021 via AIFS |
Basis caveat: Singapore's cleanest official living-alone headline is for residents aged 60+ (~10% / ~88,000), while Australia and New Zealand report aged 65+. The three living-alone percentages are therefore NOT a like-for-like ranking. Cells marked 'not directly comparable / VERIFY' are figures that exist in the underlying datasets but are not published as a clean, comparable cut in the verified Tier-1 set, so no number is asserted. Australia's headline is published split by sex rather than as a single 65+ rate.
Australia: living alone is split sharply by sex
Australia's primary measure of living alone comes from the 2021 ABS Census, analysed by the Australian Institute of Family Studies. It reports the share by sex rather than as a single combined 65+ figure: 31% of older women and 18% of older men live alone, and women make up 62% of everyone aged 55 and over who lives alone (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS). Across all ages, 26% of Australian households are lone-person households, and 55% of those single-person households are women (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS). Living alone is also strongly tied to age: 35% of Australians aged 85 and over live alone, making 85+ the age group most likely to live alone (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS). The female skew and the rise with age are the two defining features of the Australian picture, and both point to the oldest women as the group most likely to be living by themselves.
Singapore: a smaller share, on a 60+ basis
Singapore's official living-alone headline is reported on a 60+ basis rather than 65+, which is why it cannot be ranked directly against the Australian and New Zealand figures. About 10% of residents aged 60 and over, roughly 88,000 people, lived alone, according to Singapore's Ministry of Health citing the SingStat Census 2020. The lower share partly reflects Singapore's family-and-housing context and the younger 60+ cut. The exact 65+ and 85+ breakdowns exist inside the SingStat data.gov.sg dataset, but they have to be pulled from Table Builder to match the Australian and New Zealand 65+ basis, so we do not assert a Singapore 65+ or 85+ living-alone number here. What is reliable and Tier-1 is the headline: roughly one in ten Singapore residents aged 60+ lives alone (MOH citing SingStat Census 2020).
New Zealand: the clearest 65+ headline of the three
New Zealand provides the cleanest direct 65+ living-alone figure. According to the Stats NZ 2023 Census, 25.3% of people aged 65 and over live alone, which is about one in four, and that equals 192,201 people. Those older solo-dwellers make up 49.4% of everyone in New Zealand who lives alone, so nearly half of all people living alone in the country are aged 65+ (Stats NZ 2023 Census). Across all ages, New Zealand has 389,352 lone-person households, which is 22.8% of all households, and 57.4% of people living alone are women (Stats NZ 2023 Census). The 85+ living-alone rate is not published in the census highlights and would need a custom table from the Stats NZ Aotearoa Data Explorer, so we do not state an 85+ figure for New Zealand. Even without that, New Zealand's headline is the strongest apples-to-apples 65+ number in this comparison.
Ageing populations: the context behind the numbers
Living-alone shares sit on top of three rapidly ageing populations, and the ageing context explains why the solo-senior group keeps growing. In Australia, people aged 65+ are 16% of the population, about 4.2 million, and the AIHW projects this to reach 21–23% of the population by 2066 (AIHW Older Australians, 2020). In Singapore, residents aged 65+ are 18.8% of the resident population in 2025 (SingStat Population Trends 2025), and on the separate citizen basis Singapore projects about 23.9%, roughly one in four citizens, aged 65+ by 2030 (NPTD/PMO Population in Brief 2025). In New Zealand, people aged 65+ are 16.6% of the population, 828,600 people, about one in six, and Stats NZ projects the 65+ population to pass 1,000,000 by 2028 and reach 1.9 million (28.2%) by 2073 (Stats NZ 2023 Census and projections). New Zealand also reports 1.8% of its population aged 85+ (Stats NZ via EHINZ, 2023). As each country ages, the pool of older adults who could end up living alone expands with it.
Older population context — Australia, Singapore, New Zealand
| Metric | Australia | Singapore | New Zealand | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65+ (share) | 16% (4.2 million) | 18.8% of RESIDENT population (2025) | 16.6% (828,600, ~1 in 6) | AU: AIHW 2020 · SG: SingStat Population Trends 2025 · NZ: Stats NZ 2023 Census |
| Forward projection | 21–23% of population by 2066 | ~23.9% of CITIZENS (~1 in 4) by 2030 | 1,000,000 by 2028; 1.9M (28.2%) by 2073 | AU: AIHW 2020 · SG: NPTD/PMO Population in Brief 2025 · NZ: Stats NZ projections |
| Aged 85+ share | not directly comparable / VERIFY (ABS/AIHW) | not directly comparable / VERIFY (SingStat) | 1.8% aged 85+ | NZ: Stats NZ via EHINZ 2023 |
Basis caveat: Singapore reports two ways. RESIDENT (citizens + PRs) 65+ = 18.8% in 2025; the '1 in 4 / 23.9% by 2030' figure is a separate CITIZEN projection. For a fair cross-country comparison the resident 18.8% is the correct cell. Years differ: AU 2020, SG 2025, NZ 2023. The AU and SG 85+ shares are not in the verified Tier-1 set and are shown as 'not directly comparable / VERIFY'.
Comparison and trend: same direction, different bases
Pulling the three together, the living-alone story runs in the same direction in all three countries even though the headline percentages are measured on different bases. New Zealand has the clearest 65+ figure at 25.3% (Stats NZ 2023 Census). Australia, measured by sex, shows 31% of older women and 18% of older men living alone (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS), so Australian older women on their own already exceed New Zealand's combined 65+ rate. Singapore's ~10% looks lower, but it is measured at 60+ and is not a like-for-like 65+ comparison (MOH citing SingStat Census 2020). The trend in every country is upward, because each population is ageing: Australia's 65+ share heading to 21–23% by 2066 (AIHW 2020), Singapore's residents 65+ at 18.8% and citizens projected to ~23.9% by 2030 (SingStat 2025; NPTD 2025), and New Zealand's 65+ population set to pass one million by 2028 (Stats NZ). More older adults means more older adults living alone, which is why the solo-senior group is widely expected to grow in all three countries.
Best verified living-alone cut, by country
| Country | Measure | Figure | Basis / what it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Adults 65+ living alone (Stats NZ 2023) | 25.3% (192,201 people) | Cleanest direct 65+ living-alone share; ~1 in 4 |
| Australia | Older adults living alone by sex (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS) | 31% women / 18% men | Reported split by sex; women = 62% of 55+ living alone |
| Singapore | Residents 60+ living alone (MOH/SingStat Census 2020) | ~10% (~88,000) | 60+ basis, not 65+; lowest headline but not a like-for-like cut |
These are three independent national measures, not one identical metric. New Zealand's 65+ figure is the most directly comparable; Australia's is split by sex; Singapore's is on a 60+ basis. Treat the table as confirmation of the same pattern across three countries rather than a strict ranking.
Living alone is not the same as being at risk
It is worth separating two questions that the data is often used to answer. The first, how many older people live alone, is answered above: about a quarter of New Zealanders aged 65+ (Stats NZ 2023), 31% of older Australian women and 18% of older men (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS), and roughly 10% of Singapore residents aged 60+ (MOH citing SingStat Census 2020). The second question, who is actually at risk if something goes wrong, is different. Living alone is a normal, independent way of life, and many older people who live alone have rich social connections and good health. What living alone removes is something specific and modifiable: the built-in, in-home person who would immediately notice a fall, a sudden illness, or a missed morning. That discovery gap, not household size by itself, is the variable that matters most for safety, and it is the same gap in Auckland, Adelaide and Singapore alike.
Why a daily check-in helps
Across Australia, Singapore and New Zealand, the common thread is that living alone takes away the person who would otherwise notice if something were wrong. That single gap can be closed without giving up any independence and without any new hardware. A simple daily check-in works the same way in all three countries: one tap confirms you are OK, and if a check-in is missed, a chosen family member or friend is quietly notified so someone can follow up the same day instead of days later. ImAlive is privacy-first and does not track your location or movements; it simply restores the 'someone notices' that living with another person used to provide. It is free to start, with no monthly monitoring fee, so an older parent in Brisbane, a resident in Singapore, or a grandparent in Wellington can have the same quiet reassurance their family is looking for. For families spread across cities or countries, that daily confirmation is often the difference between worrying and knowing.
Sources
- Australian Institute of Family Studies — Demographics of Living Alone (ABS Census 2021)
- Australian Institute of Family Studies — Population, Households and Families (ABS Census 2021)
- AIHW — Older Australians: Demographic Profile (2020)
- Singapore Ministry of Health — Seniors aged 60+ living alone (citing SingStat Census 2020)
- SingStat (data.gov.sg) — Resident living-arrangement dataset
- SingStat — Population Trends 2025 (resident 65+ share)
- NPTD / PMO — Population in Brief 2025 (citizen 65+ projection)
- Stats NZ — 2023 Census Household, Family and Extended Family Highlights
- Stats NZ — 2023 Census
- Stats NZ — One million people aged 65 by 2028
- EHINZ — Age profile of the New Zealand population (85+ share)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seniors live alone in New Zealand?
25.3% of people aged 65 and over in New Zealand live alone, which is about one in four, equal to 192,201 people (Stats NZ 2023 Census). Those older solo-dwellers make up 49.4% of everyone in the country who lives alone.
How many older Australians live alone?
Australia reports the figure by sex: 31% of older women and 18% of older men live alone, and women make up 62% of everyone aged 55+ who lives alone (ABS Census 2021, via the Australian Institute of Family Studies). A single combined 65+ rate is not published as a clean cut in the verified set.
How many seniors in Singapore live alone?
About 10% of residents aged 60 and over in Singapore live alone, roughly 88,000 people (Ministry of Health citing the SingStat Census 2020). Note this is measured at 60+, not 65+, so it is not directly comparable with Australia's and New Zealand's 65+ figures.
Can you rank Australia, Singapore and New Zealand by seniors living alone?
Not as a clean single ranking, because the bases differ. New Zealand and Australia report aged 65+ while Singapore's headline is aged 60+. New Zealand's clearest 65+ figure is 25.3% (Stats NZ 2023), Australia is split by sex at 31% women / 18% men (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS), and Singapore is ~10% at 60+ (MOH citing SingStat 2020). We present each on its own basis rather than forcing a like-for-like rank.
Why isn't Singapore directly comparable to Australia and New Zealand?
Singapore's official living-alone headline is reported on a 60+ basis, while Australia and New Zealand report aged 65+ (MOH citing SingStat Census 2020; ABS Census 2021 via AIFS; Stats NZ 2023). The 65+ and 85+ breakdowns exist in the SingStat dataset but must be pulled from Table Builder to match, so we do not assert a Singapore 65+ living-alone number.
What share of older Australians aged 85+ live alone?
35% of Australians aged 85 and over live alone, making 85+ the age group most likely to live alone (ABS Census 2021, via the Australian Institute of Family Studies).
What percentage of New Zealand households are one-person households?
22.8% of all New Zealand households are lone-person households, equal to 389,352 households, and 57.4% of people living alone are women (Stats NZ 2023 Census).
What percentage of Australian households are lone-person households?
26% of all Australian households are lone-person households, and 55% of those single-person households are women (ABS Census 2021, via the Australian Institute of Family Studies).
Are more women than men living alone in these countries?
Yes. In Australia, women make up 62% of people aged 55+ who live alone (ABS Census 2021 via AIFS), and in New Zealand 57.4% of people living alone are women (Stats NZ 2023 Census). The female skew is mainly demographic, driven by longer female life expectancy and widowhood.
How old are the populations of Australia, Singapore and New Zealand?
People aged 65+ are 16% of Australia's population (4.2 million; AIHW 2020), 18.8% of Singapore's resident population in 2025 (SingStat Population Trends 2025), and 16.6% of New Zealand's population (828,600, about 1 in 6; Stats NZ 2023 Census).
Is the number of seniors living alone expected to grow?
Yes, because all three populations are ageing. Australia's 65+ share is projected to reach 21–23% by 2066 (AIHW 2020), Singapore projects about 23.9% of citizens aged 65+ by 2030 (NPTD/PMO Population in Brief 2025), and New Zealand's 65+ population is projected to pass 1,000,000 by 2028 and reach 1.9 million (28.2%) by 2073 (Stats NZ). A larger older population means more older adults living alone.
What is the difference between Singapore's resident and citizen 65+ figures?
Singapore reports two ways. On a RESIDENT basis (citizens plus permanent residents), 18.8% were aged 65+ in 2025 (SingStat Population Trends 2025). On a separate CITIZEN basis, Singapore projects about 23.9%, roughly one in four citizens, aged 65+ by 2030 (NPTD/PMO Population in Brief 2025). For cross-country comparison the resident 18.8% is the correct figure; the two bases should not be mixed.
Does living alone mean an older person is at risk?
Not by itself. Living alone is a normal, independent arrangement, and many older people who live alone are healthy and socially connected. What living alone removes is the in-home person who would immediately notice a fall or sudden illness, which is the specific, modifiable safety gap, rather than household size on its own.
How can a senior living alone make sure someone would notice if something went wrong?
The single modifiable factor is having someone reliably notice. A daily check-in routine, such as a one-tap confirmation through a free check-in app that alerts a chosen contact if the check-in is missed, can turn a potential days-long discovery gap into same-day notice, with no hardware required, in Australia, Singapore or New Zealand alike.
Does ImAlive track an older person's location?
No. ImAlive is privacy-first and does not track location or movements. It works as a daily check-in: a missed check-in quietly notifies a chosen family member or friend. It is free to start, with no monthly monitoring fee, so the same reassurance is available whether your parent lives in Australia, Singapore or New Zealand.
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