One-family main residences: Metropolitan France
One-family main residences: Metropolitan France stood at 17,167 thousands in 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the Housing stock and social housing table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1982 to 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Housing stock and social housing table
| Indicator | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of main residences - One-family dwelling - Metropolitan France | 17,167 | 17,095 | 16,992 | 16,898 | 16,797 | 16,675 | 16,588 | 16,490 | 16,353 | 16,240 | |
| Number of main residences - Multi-family dwelling - Metropolitan France | 13,935 | 13,793 | 13,666 | 13,498 | 13,326 | 13,152 | 12,989 | 12,819 | 12,700 | 12,545 | |
| Main residences - Proportion of homeowners - Metropolitan France | 57.5 | 57.5 | 57.6 | 57.6 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 58 |
Understanding one-family main residences: Metropolitan France
This metric counts main residences situated within standalone, single-family structures across Metropolitan France, isolating detached and semi-detached houses from multi-unit complexes. It specifically targets households inhabiting independent buildings that share no common walls or internal corridors with other residential units. This separates low-density suburban and rural dwelling types from urban apartment blocks within the broader primary residence inventory.
Analysts evaluating this series must account for urban planning shifts and suburban expansion trends that gradually alter the composition of the housing stock. Period-on-period comparisons over long horizons reveal structural preferences for space, while short-term variations remain subdued due to the slow pace of low-density residential construction. A common error is treating single-family growth as an indicator of total population growth, when it frequently reflects changing household size preferences rather than sheer demographic expansion.
Frequently asked questions
- What structural criteria define a single-family dwelling?
- It must be an independent building intended for one household, featuring no shared interior spaces or common walls with other residential units.
- Are row houses or townhouses included in this category?
- Attached row houses are generally included if they possess independent structural walls and private ground-to-roof access, depending on precise administrative classification.
- Does this series include secondary homes?
- No, this measure is strictly restricted to properties serving as primary main residences.