THE average household size in East Renfrewshire has fallen by almost 6% over the past 20 years, new figures show.

Between 2001 and 2021, the typical household in the area has decreased from 2.53 people to 2.38.

These figures mirror the national downward trend, with households consisting of only one person being the most common type in Scotland.

Glasgow and Edinburgh are the main exceptions, with the average household size in these two council areas increasing by just over 4% from 2008 to 2021.

The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) also show that, in 2021, the total number of households in East Renfrewshire reached 40,000.

This was an increase of 5,000 (14%) since 2001.

The number of households has risen in all 32 council areas in Scotland over the last 20 years.

There were 39,900 dwellings in East Renfrewshire in 2021, of which 514 (1%) were empty. These included new homes yet to be occupied and dwellings awaiting repair or demolition.

Across Scotland, there were 2.67 million dwellings in 2021, with a total of 24,000 (1%) of these being second homes.

The report also shows that, last year, 38% of properties in East Renfrewshire fell within the D to E council tax bands, for values of up to £80,000.

Around 35% were in the higher F to H bands, while just over a quarter were in band A to C (up to £45,000).

Sandy Taylor, head of household statistics at NRS, said: “These latest statistics show a continuation of the trends in the number and type of households that we have seen over the last twenty years.

“The growth in the number of households is partly due to an increase in the population but it is also because people are increasingly living alone or with fewer other people.”