We examine patterns and trends in household size and living arrangements in Asia to highlight
the prevalent characteristics of Asian families showing diversity across countries and changes
over time. We combine data from censuses and surveys from 12 countries spanning from 1980
to 2010, adopting two perspectives: a household and an individual level of analysis. Results
show that households and families are changing in Asia while elements of the old remain.
Driven by fertility decline, household size in most Asian countries has experienced a shrinkage,
yet the prevalence of one-person household remains low, and confined mostly to the elderly,
especially female, population. The dominant feature of intergenerational co-residence continues
to characterize Asian households. The decline in household size does not entail a simplification
of household structures. The percentage of the elderly living with children remains stable while,
contrary to modernizations theories, the percentage of adult children co-residing with at least
one parent in fact increased. Gender differences in intergenerational co-residence for adults
clearly mark distinctions between family systems of different countries (i.e. patrilocal,
matrilocal and bilateral systems).