The statistics come from the registrar general of Scotland

There were 2.25 million households in 2004 - a 10% increase since 1991, despite a fall in the population.

Registrar General Duncan Macniven said this was not a surprise because the average household was getting smaller.

The figure for people living on their own rose from 29% in 1991 to 34% last year, while the number of larger households was in decline.

The statistics were contained in the registrar general's household estimates for 2004.

Fallen slightly

The total of 2.25 million represented a rise of just under 1% on the 2003 figure.

"Although Scotland's population has fallen slightly since 1991, the number of households is increasing because the average household size is getting smaller," said Mr Macniven.

The percentage containing two or more adults with one or more children fell from 25% in 1991 to 21% last year.

North Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire and West Lothian recorded the largest increases in the number of households, while there were small decreases in Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.