US new housing starts reached 1,414,000 in 2023, a 5.1% rise from 2022, with single-family construction accounting for 1,010,000 of the total. Permits have been choppier since then, including 1,436,000 annualized in the US in September 2024, down 2.5% month over month. Across the UK and Canada, starts increased 5% in the UK during Q2 and rose 2% in Canada in 2023, showing how uneven demand looks from market to market.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the US saw 1,414,000 new housing starts, a 5.1% increase from 2022, primarily driven by single-family homes at 1,010,000 units
- In 2023, average US new home construction cost was $428,870 per unit, up 6.2% from 2022
- In 2023, US home building employed 1.1 million workers directly
- US new homes average size 2,235 sq ft in 2023, up 2% YoY
- New homes used 15% more lumber per unit in 2023 US vs 2019 due to size increase
New house building rose this year, showing growing demand and steady momentum in housing construction.
Related reading
01 · Category
Building Permits and Housing Starts30 stats
01
In 2023, the US saw 1,414,000 new housing starts, a 5.1% increase from 2022, primarily driven by single-family homes at 1,010,000 units
02
Single-family housing permits in the US reached 980,000 units annualized in August 2024, up 2.8% from July
03
Total US building permits for new residential construction hit 1,436,000 annualized in September 2024, down 2.5% month-over-month
04
In Q2 2024, UK new home starts totaled 35,250 dwellings, a 5% rise from Q1
05
Canada issued 244,587 new housing starts in 2023, up 2% from 2022, with urban starts at 232,424
06
Australia approved 168,100 new dwellings in 2023-24, a 3.2% increase year-on-year
07
EU-27 new residential building permits issued 1,238,000 units in 2022, down 1.5% from 2021
08
In Q3 2024, US single-family permits were 956,000 annualized, up 1.9% from Q2
09
New Zealand consented 43,400 new dwellings in year ending June 2024, down 4% from prior year
10
India urban building permits for residential units exceeded 500,000 in FY 2023-24 across major cities
11
Japan started 847,000 new housing units in 2023, a 1.2% decline from 2022
12
South Korea issued permits for 412,000 new apartments in 2023, up 8% YoY
13
In 2023, Florida led US states with 189,000 new housing starts
14
Texas new single-family permits reached 163,000 annualized in mid-2024
15
California multifamily starts totaled 68,000 units in 2023
16
In England, new build starts rose to 142,000 homes in 2023/24, up 12% from prior year
17
Germany approved 285,000 new residential units in 2023, down 11% YoY
18
France housing starts hit 348,000 units in 2023, a 4% increase
19
US Midwest region permits averaged 1,200 per 100k population in 2023
20
Northeast US single-family starts: 98,000 units in 2023
21
Southwest US permits surged 15% to 450,000 annualized in Q3 2024
22
Scotland new house starts: 19,500 in 2023, up 5%
23
Brazil approved 650,000 new housing units under MCMV program in 2023
24
Mexico new home starts: 120,000 units in urban areas 2023
25
US permits for structures with 50+ units: 52,000 annualized in Sep 2024
26
Permits under construction in US: 1,004,000 units as of Sep 2024
27
Single-family authorizations in US South: 680,000 annualized Q3 2024
28
UK private enterprise starts: 28,900 in Q2 2024
29
Canada single-detached starts: 112,000 in 2023
30
Australia detached house approvals: 81,000 in 2023-24
Interpretation
Building Permits and Housing Starts Interpretation
In a global housing dance that's more lurching than leaping, America flirts with building back—if lumber and interest rates allow—while Britain cautiously tips its hard hat upward, and Europe looks on like a sullen neighbor weighing a renovation, proving new starts are often less a boom and more a hopeful, patchy hammering against the pressures of economy, policy, and stubborn reality.
02 · Category
Construction Costs29 stats
01
In 2023, average US new home construction cost was $428,870per unit, up 6.2% from 2022
02
Lumber prices contributed 15-20% to US single-family home costs in 2023, averaging $500 per 1,000 board feet
03
Soft costs (design, permits) averaged 24.3% of total new home cost in 2023 US
04
Finished lot prices rose to $59,000per unit in 2023, 18% of total US home cost
05
Framing costs for new US homes averaged $35,000in 2023, up 4% YoY
06
Foundation costs represented 10.5% of new single-family home build in 2023 US
07
UK new build homes averaged £350,000 construction cost in 2023
08
Labor costs in new US home construction hit 30.6% of total in 2023
09
Canada new home build cost index rose 5.8% YoY to Q2 2024
10
Material costs for new Australian homes up 7.2% in 2023-24
11
EU residential construction cost index increased 4.1% in 2023
12
Plumbing fixtures cost $12,500average per new US home in 2023
13
Electrical systems averaged $14,600in new US single-family homes 2023
14
Site work costs 7.8% of total new home build, $33,000 average US 2023
15
Appliances contributed $11,200to new US home costs in 2023
16
Cabinetry and countertops cost $18,000average in 2023 new builds US
17
Roofing materials averaged $12,000per new US home in 2023
18
Windows and doors: $15,500average cost in 2023 new single-family US
19
Insulation costs $5,200per new US home in 2023
20
Exterior finishes $22,000average in 2023 US new homes
21
Interior finishes $45,000average per new US home 2023
22
Land development costs up 10% to $70,000 per lot in Sunbelt US 2023
23
Financing costs averaged 6.5% of total new home cost US 2023
24
Profit margin for builders squeezed to 9.1% in 2023 US new homes
25
General overhead 11.4% of new US home costs in 2023
26
New Zealand house construction costs rose 4.5% YoY to June 2024
27
India residential construction cost index up 6.8% in 2023-24
28
US construction input prices up 4.2% YoY in Sep 2024
29
UK output prices for new housing work up 3.1% YoY Q2 2024
Interpretation
Construction Costs Interpretation
While lumber, labor, and even the kitchen sink are pushing new home costs relentlessly upward worldwide, the builder's ultimate profit is getting squeezed tighter than a stud in a warped frame.
03 · Category
Labor Force27 stats
01
In 2023, US home building employed 1.1 million workers directly
02
Construction laborers in new residential: 22% of total US construction workforce in 2023
03
Carpenter employment in US residential construction: 105,000 in 2023 average
04
Average hourly wage for US construction supervisors: $38.50in 2023
05
UK new build sector employed 225,000 workers in 2023
06
Canada residential construction jobs: 450,000 in 2023, up 3%
07
Shortage of skilled trades: 80% of US builders reported carpenter shortages in 2024 NAHB survey
08
Electricians in new home building: average wage $32/hr US 2023
09
Plumbers hourly wage averaged $35in US residential construction 2023
10
Labor productivity in US home building down 5% since 2020
11
Australia construction workforce grew to 1.2 million in 2023, 20% in residential
12
EU construction employment: 6.5 million in residential sector 2023
13
Turnover rate in US home building labor: 25% annually in 2023
14
Immigrants comprise 30% of US construction workforce in 2023
15
Training hours per new apprentice: 2,000 annually in US union programs 2023
16
Female participation in US construction: 11% in 2023, up from 9% in 2020
17
Overtime hours in residential construction averaged 4.5 hrs/week US 2023
18
Job openings in US construction: 383,000 in Sep 2024
19
Union membership in US construction: 12.6% in 2023
20
Age distribution: 25% of US construction workers over 55 in 2023
21
Injury rate in residential construction: 3.2 per 100 workers US 2023
22
Wage growth for laborers: 5.1% YoY in US residential 2023
23
Contractor subcontractors: 85% of new home labor US 2023
24
Hours worked per new home: 1,800 average US 2023
25
Germany construction labor shortage: 350,000 vacancies in 2023
26
India construction workforce: 75 million, 40% in housing 2023
27
UK bricklayers shortage: 42,000 needed by 2027
Interpretation
Labor Force Interpretation
While building our future homes, we’re facing an ironic crisis where the foundations are poured by a dwindling, aging, and stretched-thin workforce that we’re desperately trying to rebuild faster than the houses themselves.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Trends and Forecasts24 stats
01
US new homes average size 2,235 sq ft in 2023, up 2% YoY
02
Multifamily completions forecast to reach 450,000 units in US 2025
03
New home sales in US Q3 2024: 676,000 annualized, up 4.8%
04
UK new build completions: 212,000 homes forecast for 2024
05
Canada new home market absorption rate: 75% within 3 months in 2024
06
Global new residential construction market to grow 5.2% CAGR to 2030
07
US Sunbelt states to account for 60% of new home growth through 2030
08
Median new US home price: $417,500in Sep 2024
09
Inventory of new homes for sale: 285,000 units US Sep 2024, 4.2 months supply
10
Australia dwelling approvals forecast 170,000 annually to 2028
11
EU new housing demand gap: 4 million units by 2030
12
Modular/prefab share in new US homes: projected 15% by 2030 from 5% now
13
New Zealand house prices for new builds up 3% YoY 2024
14
India urban housing shortage: 18.78 million units in 2023
15
Builder confidence index NAHB: 43 in Oct 2024
16
Single-family starts forecast 970,000 US 2025
17
Rental new construction: 400,000 units planned US 2025
18
Aging-in-place features in 70% of new US homes 2024 survey
19
Smart home tech standard in 65% new builds US 2024
20
Net-zero ready homes: 10% of new US luxury builds 2024
21
Migration-driven demand: Southeast US 40% of new starts growth 2023-2024
22
Oversupply risk in multifamily: 2025 completions peak then decline US
23
UK Help to Buy scheme impact: 25% of new sales 2023
24
China new urban housing starts down 22% YoY 2023
Interpretation
Market Trends and Forecasts Interpretation
While we're obsessively building bigger, smarter, and more luxurious homes that fewer people can afford, the global housing market is a bewildering patchwork of desperate shortages, migration-fueled booms, and the looming specter of oversupply, all held together by the thin hope that modular construction and aging-in-place features might somehow solve a math problem we're fundamentally failing.
05 · Category
Materials Usage24 stats
01
New homes used 15% more lumber per unit in 2023 US vs 2019 due to size increase
02
Softwood lumber consumption for new US single-family homes: 16,000 board feet average 2023
03
Concrete usage in US new foundations: 50 cubic yards average per home 2023
04
Steel framing adopted in 5% of new US homes in 2023, saving 20% on lumber
05
Asphalt shingles covered 90% of new US roofs in 2023
06
Vinyl siding used in 52% of new US single-family homes 2023
07
Energy-efficient windows: double-pane in 85% of new US homes 2023
08
Insulation R-value average 38 for attics in new US homes 2023
09
LED lighting fixtures in 95% of new US homes 2023
10
Quartz countertops in 60% of new kitchens US 2023
11
Tankless water heaters in 25% of new US homes 2023, up from 15% in 2020
12
Recycled content in new home materials: 10% average US 2023
13
OSB usage: 8,000 sq ft per new US home 2023
14
Drywall consumption: 7,500 sq ft per single-family home US 2023
15
HVAC systems: ductless mini-splits in 15% new US homes 2023
16
Solar panels on 12% of new US single-family homes 2023
17
Fiber cement siding: 25% market share in new US homes 2023
18
Laminate flooring in 40% of new home main living areas US 2023
19
Low-VOC paints used in 70% of new US interiors 2023
20
Composite decking: 30% of new decks in US homes 2023
21
UK new homes timber frame construction: 80% in 2023
22
Canada asphalt roofing granules recycled rate: 98% in new builds 2023
23
EU timber certification: 75% of wood in new homes FSC in 2023
24
Australia brick usage: 1.2 million sqm in new housing 2023
Interpretation
Materials Usage Interpretation
The modern American home is a larger, lumber-hungry machine trying to green itself one LED bulb and quartz slab at a time, while the rest of the world builds differently, recycles more, and uses far less wood.
Reference
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APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). New House Building Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-house-building-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "New House Building Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/new-house-building-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "New House Building Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-house-building-statistics.
Sources & references
53 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level