Facts About Single Parent Families

By PWP, International

· As of 2000 an estimated 13.5 million single parents had custody of 21.7 million children under 21 years of age whose other parent lived somewhere else.
· The proportion of the population made up by married couples with children decreased from 40% in 1970 to 24% in 2000.
· One parent families numbered over 12 million in 2000.
· Single parent households increased from 9% in 1990 to %16 of all households by 2000.
· Births among unmarried women increased and the proportion of never-married parents increased.
· About one-third of custodial mothers have never been married.
· Single mother families increased from 7 million in 1990 to 10 million in 2000. Today 13.8 million children (23%) under 15 live with single mothers, 2.7 million (5%) live with single fathers.
· The proportion of single mother families grew to 26% and single father families grew to 5% by 2000 (from 12% and 1% respectively in 1970).
· 46% of single mother households contain more than one child.
· Overall, about 26.2% of all children under 21 living in families have a parent not living at home.
· Single fathers are more likely to cohabit (33%) than single mothers (11%).
· The divorce rate leveled off during the 1990's.
· There was growth in divorce among couples with children.
· 48% of single parent male families and 44% headed by females live in suburban areas.
· 58% of single parent male families and 49% of single parent female families own or are buying their homes.
· The proportion of custodial parents in full-time year-round jobs grew from 45.6% to 53.7%. 30% work part-time.
· Custodial mothers are more likely to work part-time.
· 89% of single fathers are in the work force and 77% of single mothers work.
· The proportion of custodial parents and their children living below the poverty level declined from 33% in 1993 to 26.1% 1999.
· The percentage of custodial mother families in poverty fell from 36.8% in 1993 to 28.7%. Still 2.5 times that of custodial father families at 11.1% in 1999. ( married families below poverty levels was 6.3%).
· The rate of program participation for public assistance decreased from 40.7% to 30.0% for all custodial parents.
· 59% of custodial parents have child support agreements. More custodial mothers (62.2%) have agreements than custodial fathers (39.2%).
· About three-quarters of custodial parents receive some child support.
· More custodial parents are receiving their full support payments ..up 36.9% in 1993 to 46.2%.
· Income is higher and poverty lower for custodial parent receiving full support payments.
· Average family income for custodial parents is $28,000.
· Child support is more likely received by parents with custody and visitation agreements. (84.8%)
· Over half who do not have joint custody or agreements do not receive any payments.
· Custodial mothers received an average of $3,800 in 1999; those receiving the full amount due averaged $4,900.
· Over half (55.8%) of child support awards have provision for health insurance.
· 59.1% of all custodial parents receive at least one type of noncash support. Nearly two-thirds (65.4%) with child support agreements receive noncash support.
· 5.6 million children live with grandparents.

RESOURCES