What Are Needs and Wants?
Social Studies · Economics and Financial Literacy · Grades 1–3
Meaning at a glance
Needs are things people must have to live and stay healthy, such as food, water and shelter. Wants are things people would like to have but can live without.
Also searched as: needs, wants, need and want, basic needs.
Understand it simply
We all need certain things to stay alive, healthy and safe: food, clean water, clothing, shelter and care when we are ill. Children also need to go to school.
We also have wants. These are things that make life more fun or comfortable, like toys, sweets or a new phone. Wants are not bad, but we can live without them.
See it work
Here are some examples sorted into needs and wants.
| Needs | Wants |
|---|---|
| Clean water | A new toy |
| Food | Sweets and fizzy drinks |
| A safe home | A bigger television |
| Clothes for the weather | Fashionable shoes |
Avoid this confusion
The same thing can be a need or a want. A warm coat in a cold place is a need. A fancy coat with a famous label is a want.
Families usually do not have enough money for every want. So they choose, and they look after needs first.
Try it yourself
Work these out first, then check your answers below.
Sort these into needs and wants: water, a video game, shelter, ice cream.
Is a warm coat a need or a want for a child living in a very cold place?
A family has only a little money. Should they buy food or a new toy first? Why?
Check your understanding
Show the answer to question 1
Answer: Needs: water, shelter. Wants: a video game, ice cream.
We cannot live without water or shelter. We can live without games and ice cream.
Show the answer to question 2
Answer: A need.
The coat keeps the child warm and healthy.
Show the answer to question 3
Answer: Food.
Food is a need. People look after their needs before their wants.
Understand more with Courseversity
You now know what needs and wants means. Keep going with a full lesson, then explore the ideas that connect to it.
Learn
Learn this in a full lesson.
- What are needs? (Grade 1)
- Needs and wants (Grade 2)
- Needs before wants (Grade 2)
Practise
Practise with Learning Lab questions for the lesson What are needs? (Grade 1), with an explanation after each answer.
Explore
Ideas that connect to this word.
- Goods and services: the things people buy to meet needs and wants.
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Sources and review
This explanation was written from Courseversity lesson content (see the lessons above). An outside reference check is still on the editorial to-do list.
Written by: Courseversity editorial team (AI-assisted draft).
Review status: checked against the sources above. Educator review is pending, so please tell us if anything looks wrong.
Last updated: 27 October 2026.