Understanding household dynamics differently: A multilevel analysis of individual, household, and community influences on household size for sustainable development in Northern Ghana

• Multilevel modeling reveals community-level factors dominate household size determinants. • Individual characteristics (age, gender, education) are less influential than community norms. • Significant variability in household size across communities underscores cultural impacts. • Findings advocate for community-centric policies and tailored interventions in rural development. • Study aligns with SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11, promoting sustainable development through multilevel insights. This study examines household size determinants in Northern Ghana using multilevel modeling across individual, household, and community levels. Analysis of 240 households across 20 communities in three northern regions reveals that community-level factors overshadow individual characteristics in determining household size. The average household size of 12.91 members (SD = 8.67) shows substantial community-level variance (12.700), accounting for 42.3% of the total variance. Individual-level predictors (age, gender, education) fail to achieve statistical significance ( p > 0.05) when community context is properly accounted for. Communities exhibit marked differences in household sizes, ranging from 7.75 to 19.4 members. Food security analysis indicates that very large households (>15 members) report better outcomes, with only 30.5% experiencing food insufficiency compared to 73.7% of small households (≤5 members). These findings challenge conventional approaches that prioritize individual behavior change, instead highlighting the necessity for community-centric policies that recognize household structures as adaptive responses to local conditions. This study emphasizes the importance of tailored, community-specific interventions for effective rural development by aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, and Sustainable Communities. This multilevel perspective offers a more nuanced framework for understanding household dynamics in rural settings, with significant implications for designing sustainable livelihood interventions in Northern Ghana and similar contexts.