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Emerging, transitory or residual? One-person households in Viet Nam

Author

Listed:
  • Christophe Z. Guilmoto

    (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD))

  • Myriam de Loenzien

    (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD))

Abstract

Background: The rise of one-person households in Viet Nam remains poorly documented, in spite of its significant growth since the 1990s and its relevance to the understanding of social and demographic change. Objective: We aim to present a systematic analysis of the growing number of one-person households, interpret recent trends and describe the main characteristics of the population living alone. Methods: Our research is drawn from the 2009 census. Cross-tabulations are followed by regression analysis modelling of the probability of living alone. A cluster analysis identifies the profiles of people in one-person households. Finally an in-depth analysis of the most vulnerable type of one-person households is done. Results: Our analysis stresses the heterogeneity of the population living alone, in which we can identify four distinct profiles. The largest cluster is comprised of elderly widows and widowers. It arguably constitutes the most fragile population segment, as illustrated by several health and economic indicators. The second cluster comprises a more heterogeneous population, but only composed of persons who have not moved during the last five years. The third and fourth clusters are made up of migrants. Along with age, marital status tends to be the primary factor explaining the probability of a person living alone in Viet Nam. However, the rise in one-person households may be as much related to the gradual changes in marital status, illustrated by delayed marriage, as to the increase in mobility and the relative weakening of traditional family patterns.

Suggested Citation

  • Christophe Z. Guilmoto & Myriam de Loenzien, 2015. "Emerging, transitory or residual? One-person households in Viet Nam," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(42), pages 1147-1176.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:32:y:2015:i:42
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2015.32.42
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. World Bank, 2011. "Vietnam Country Gender Assessment," World Bank Publications - Reports 26745, The World Bank Group.
    2. World Bank, 2011. "Vietnam," World Bank Publications - Reports 27450, The World Bank Group.
    3. Long T. Giang & Wade D. Pfau, 2009. "Vulnerability of Vietnamese Elderly to Poverty: Determinants and Policy Implications," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 23(4), pages 419-437, December.
    4. Christophe Z. Guilmoto, 2012. "Son Preference, Sex Selection, and Kinship in Vietnam," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 38(1), pages 31-54, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Duc Hong Vo & Chi Minh Ho & Anh The Vo, 2023. "The economic circumstances of widows in Vietnam," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(5), pages 1-20, May.
    2. Jianye Liu & Juyan Wang & Roderic Beaujot & Zenaida Ravanera, 2020. "Determinants of adults’ solo living in Canada: a longitudinal perspective," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 53-71, March.
    3. Wei-Jun Jean Yeung & Adam Ka-Lok Cheung, 2015. "Living Alone," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(40), pages 1099-1112.
    4. Jeofrey Bautista Abalos & Wei-Jun Jean Yeung, 2023. "Demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors for the rise in one-person households in developing countries: the case of the Philippines," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1-32, December.
    5. Xin Wang & Chenyu Yan & Che Deng & Hong He, 2024. "Socioeconomic development and Chinese young adults’ propensity to live alone: An extended replication study," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 51(31), pages 965-998.
    6. Adam Ka-Lok Cheung & Wei-Jun Jean Yeung, 2021. "Socioeconomic development and young adults’ propensity of living in one-person households: Compositional and contextual effects," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(11), pages 277-306.
    7. Vicente, Millinia Ciela & Loja, Princess Joan & Subade, Rodelio, . "Economic valuation of ecosystem services in Balatin River Sub-Watershed, Southern Philippines," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 9(01).
    8. Emiko Takagi & Yasuhiko Saito & Angelique Chan, 2020. "Gender differences in the association between social relationships and loneliness among older adults in Singapore," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 243-263, September.
    9. Zoya Gubernskaya & Zequn Tang, 2017. "Just Like in Their Home Country? A Multinational Perspective on Living Arrangements of Older Immigrants in the United States," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(5), pages 1973-1998, October.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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