Définition
The occupancy index is used to classify dwellings by comparing the number of rooms in the dwelling with the number of rooms theoretically required for the household living in it.
This defines situations of over-occupation and conversely under-occupation. Overcrowding is defined when using an additional criterion of surface area per person.
The number of rooms theoretically required (standard) is computed as follows:
- one living room for the household;
- one room for each couple;
- one room for each person aged 19 and older not living as a couple in the household;
- for people under 19 years old, one room for two people if they are of the same sex or under 7 years old, otherwise, one room per person.
A dwelling is overoccupied if it has fewer rooms than the standard.
A dwelling is overcrowded if it is overoccupied or if it has as many rooms as the standard but there is less than 18 m² per person.
Exception: for a single person in a studio of more than 25 m², the dwelling is not deemed overcrowded but in a normal situation.
The kitchen is included in the number of rooms of a dweeling only if it measures more than 12 m².
Remarque
- The overcrowding index is calculated only for dwellings that are primary residences;
- The concept of overcrowding also includes a criterion of surface area per person (data only available in certain sources);
- Eurostat does not take into account the criterion of surface area per person; so there is no distinction between over-occupation and overcrowding in European statistics. In addition, the age criteria used to determine the standard are different.