|Adults combinations (other than a couple) ‐ no children|9.4%|7.9%|4.0%|3.9%|2.3%|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Other adult combinations ‐ with children|6.8%|15.8%|5.9%|7.8%|6.9%|
|Senior(s) only ‐ no children|6.9%|1.8%|4.0%|1.7%|0.8%|
|Senior(s) only ‐ with children|0.7%|0.0%|0.6%|0.1%|1.3%|
|No adults, children only|0.0%|0.2%|0.3%|0.4%|0.1%|
|Total|100%|100%|100%|100%|100%|

Note: Total sample 89 countries Source: WB Staff’s calculations based on GMD.

# Economic household composition

The _economic_ household composition assumes that a household member can be classified in one of two categories: as an _income earner,_ meaning an individual 15 or older who is engaged in economic activity for pay, or a _non‐earner_ member, namely, those who depend on the income earners and/or depend on other income transfers such as social protection programs or remittances, for example. To differentiate on the type of income dependent, we distinguish between _earner dependent,_ those non‐earners 18‐64, and _other dependents_ which follows the traditional definition of children (younger than 18) and/or seniors (65 or older) who, are distinguished among the non‐earners from the adults. (See Box 2 for more details about the non‐earners).

## **_Box 2. Child and senior breadwinners and non‐earner members_**

According to the definitions above, children 15‐17 and seniors 65+ can fall in either the earner or non‐earner category. The more traditional definition of working age population covers those 15‐64 (above legal age for work and below retirement age). For the case of this analysis we are including a wider definition covering those 15 and above.

In the case of youth ages 15‐17, the GMD contains over 243 million people of which 52 percent are boys and 48 percent girls. The majority (70 percent) report going to school, 13 percent are not in school or employed, 10 percent are engaged in paid work, and 6 percent are engaged in unpaid work. Of those engaged in paid work 68 percent are boys, who also make the majority of those un unpaid work. Among those who live in poor households, 28 percent of young girls and boys are engaged in economic activity. 8 percent of girls, and 14 percent of boys who live in poor households are engaged in paid work.

These figures translate in: Households with children 15‐17 as the only earners are a very small share of all households (0.3 percent). Households with seniors 65+ as the only earners are only 2 percent of all households. 4.3 percent of households have among their earners someone 65 or older (this number is slightly higher among poor households at 5.5 percent). Earners are concentrated mainly in the 18‐64 age group.

The economic definition refers to earners as those who contribute with monetary income from paid work. It is important to acknowledge that some non‐earners, are engaged in economic activity as unpaid workers or through contributions in‐kind to the household. For example, they may engage in work that is not visible or accounted for as work such as unpaid domestic work.

One clear example of unpaid domestic work is found in households where women take care of children and/or the elderly. Examples of such households are (i) households with a male earner, a non‐ earner spouse, and children/senior dependents; (ii) households with a female non‐earner, an earner spouse, and children/senior dependents; (iii) households with a male earner, without spouse, and with 26