How many people live aboard boats or ships?

Question

I would like an estimation please, (an actual number). It can be in the world or in the U.S.

Answer 1

The last estimate I heard from the US Govt, was between 11000 and 12000 in the US. This was derived from tax records, census etc.  That was about 3 years ago.

Answer 2

What about Stow aways or imigrants, do they count?

Exactly 543,210.02

Answer 3

Fewer Marinas in North America allow it nowadays. If you look at Holland or the Netherlands in general as well as Asian areas...added to the sparse few in other places...I'd guess over 300,000 including liveaboards at sea cruising the world over.

Answer 4

People that have boats or ships with sleeping quarters typically.

Answer 5

It pretty much depends on the size of the ship or boat now doesn't it?   So lets just guess more than 1 and less than 5000.

Answer 6

More than you realize.... Atleast 10% of America I am thinking!

Answer 7

well, you can add me to your list,just a matter of days before I take the plunge,so to speak.

Answer 8

idk, but i live on my houseboat, love it

Answer 9

I don't now but I have in the past, and I would like to do so again in the not too distant future.  

I know of one little marina in North Carolina alone where there were at least 50 or 60 people living aboard.  Many of them had regular jobs and went to work everyday.  Multiply that by all the marinas in NC and there are probably thousands in NC alone.  And many people live aboard and anchor rather than tying up at a marina.  Then consider all the other states where people could live aboard year round.  I suspect the numbers in the US alone are higher than people would think.   We met hundreds of people living aboard over a short period of time, in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, and we certainly didn't meet all of them.

Then consider the rest of the world where many more people live aboard, especially in the southern hemisphere.    and think about all the people on navy ships and on cruise ships, etc.  I expect that thousands of people in countries such as China, Viet Nam, Indonesia, etc. live on boats.  I don't think there is any real way of giving a good answer to your question.

Here is an interesting link.

Answer 10

If you are asking about the number of people in the world ... there are 100's of thousands ... If you are asking about people on this forum ....  I do .. with my wife and 2 cats. There are about 75 other boats in our marina with folks who live aboard boats ranging from 28' to 75' in length.

Answer 11

My uncle has lived on a cruise ship for 35 years.

My best friend has lived on the same house boat in UK all his life.

Answer 12

alot

Answer 13

14

Answer 14

I am moving back on board in a few months

to many people on land