The table illustrates the changes in the percentage distribution of four different household types in Japan over a 35-year period, specifically from 1980 to 2015.
Overall, the data shows a clear shift away from larger family structures towards smaller household units during this time. While nuclear and extended families saw their percentages decline, single-person households and couples without children became more common.
Single-person households experienced a consistent increase, starting at 15% in 1980 and rising to 22% by 1995, before reaching 29% in 2015. Similarly, couples without children also increased, albeit more gradually, from 18% in 1980 to 20% in 1995, and then to 23% by the end of the period.
In contrast, nuclear families, which were the most prevalent type in 1980 at 42%, steadily decreased to 36% in 1995 and further to 28% in 2015. Extended families followed a similar downward trend, falling from 25% in 1980 to 22% in 1995, and then slightly to 20% by 2015.