Leïla Fardeau, Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques
Eva Lelièvre, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
In countries where complex households represent a significant portion of the population, extended families also spread themselves beyond the limits of a single domestic group. Consequently, living arrangements can only be accurately described by considering kinship networks and more generally by taking into account relationships between non-coresident units. Taking the example of French Polynesia – a French overseas territory where more than 40 % of the population resides in complex households – this presentation offers a comprehensive analysis of family relationships both intergenerational and among collateral relatives. Using data from the 2017 census along with insights from a family survey conducted in 2020, it highlights the diversity of family organization, by exploring proximity within and beyond the household. This perspective leads to investigating the patterns that shape the current structure of family arrangements. How has the shift toward nuclear families occurred, alongside the persistence of complex households? What role do socioeconomic changes and urbanization patterns play in shaping family proximity? In this context, family arrangements are viewed primarily as adaptations to spatial and economic constraints related to land ownership, housing, employment, resources, and the availability of public services.
Keywords: Families, Unions and Households, Census data, Data and Methods