Net Worth of KRW 430 Million, Half Own Homes... 'Permanently Single' Households Are the Wealthiest Among Singles

Continuous Single-Person Households Make Up 21%

Average 13 Years Living Alone

54% Home Ownership Rate, High Demand for Retirement Planning and Tax Savings

It has been found that among single-person households, those who plan to remain single with no intention of getting married or remarried, referred to as 'permanently single-person households,' hold the highest levels of assets. Notably, this group has a higher proportion of women and individuals in their 40s and 50s.

According to the 'Exploring the Financial Needs of Working Single-Person Households' report released by Hana Institute of Finance on September 6, among the three types of single-person households categorized by marriage intentions, 'permanently single-person households'—those who plan to continue living alone without plans for marriage or remarriage—have an average net worth of KRW 430 million, which is KRW 70 million higher than the overall average of KRW 360 million.

The average net worth for 'temporary single-person households' stood at KRW 290 million, which is KRW 140 million less than that of permanently single-person households. The rate of home ownership among permanently single-person households was also noticeably higher, at 54%, compared to the overall average of 38% and 30% for temporary single-person households.

The institute surveyed 1,000 economically active single-person households aged 25 to 59 this past April. Excluding 113 respondents who are currently married, the remaining 887 respondents were categorized and analyzed according to their future intentions regarding marriage: 'temporary single-person households,' 'undecided single-person households,' and 'permanently single-person households.'

Among the respondents, 'undecided single-person households' made up the largest group at 65%. This was followed by 'permanently single-person households' at 21% and 'temporary single-person households' with plans to marry at 14%.

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The demographic composition of permanently single-person households also showed clear differences from other types. Women accounted for 64% of this group, which is 22 percentage points higher than the overall proportion of 42%. Individuals in their 40s and 50s made up 70% of permanently single-person households, which is 24 percentage points higher than the overall average of 46%. In contrast, among temporary single-person households with marriage plans, men constituted 78%, and those in their 20s and 30s also accounted for 78%.

The average length of time spent living alone was also longer for permanently single-person households—13 years, compared to 8 years for temporary single-person households. This suggests that middle-aged individuals who have long lived alone and have stably secured housing and assets are more likely to belong to the permanently single-person household category.

Differences were also observed in financial demand. Permanently single-person households showed a relatively higher interest in financial products designed for future needs—such as retirement planning, tax savings, and long-term care—rather than home purchases or saving for marriage.

Hana Institute of Finance analyzed, "Single-person households have moved beyond being a temporary phenomenon to becoming a structural shift that constitutes a significant portion of all households," adding, "The financial sector needs to take a more tailored approach by segmenting single-person households according to marital status, age, gender, and asset levels."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.