National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse  101 Lake Forest Boulevard, Suite 360  Gaithersburg, MD 20877 

 Toll-free: 1 (877) 4DAD411  Fax: (301) 948-4325  www.fatherhood.gov 

NRFC 

Quick Statistics 

2007 

Fathers and Marriage 

Percentage Married Among Males Ages 18 and Older by Parental Status: 1991-2001 

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 

Total 64 63 63 63 63 62 61 62 62 62 61 

Resident Father 92 91 91 91 90 89 89 89 89 89 89 

Nonparent 45 45 46 44 45 45 44 44 45 45 45 

Note: Estimates calculated by Child Trends based on analyses of the 1991-2001, March Supplement, Current Population Survey 

Source: Child Trends. (2002). "Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers." Washington, D.C.: Child Trends. 

• The percentage of men who are married declined modestly between 1991 and 2001 

from 64 percent to 61 percent. 

• Between 1991 and 2001, most resident fathers were married. During this period, the 

percentage of married resident fathers, however, fell slightly from 92 percent in 1991 to 

89 percent in 2001. 

• Less than half of all men without children in the household were married during this time 

period (between 44 and 46 percent over the ten year period). 

Percentage Married Among Males Ages 18 and Older by Poverty Status: 1991-2001 

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 

Total 64 63 63 63 63 62 61 62 62 62 61 

Poor (0 to 99% poverty) 48 46 46 46 45 42 43 42 43 42 41 

Nonpoor 

100 to 199% of poverty 59 58 57 58 57 56 54 55 55 55 54 

200 to 299% of poverty 65 65 65 63 63 62 62 60 60 60 59 

300% or more of poverty 67 67 68 67 67 67 66 67 66 66 66 

Note: Estimates calculated by Child Trends based on analyses of the 1991-2001, March Supplement, Current Population Survey 

Source: Child Trends. (2002). "Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers." Washington, D.C.: Child Trends. 

• As income rises, so does the probability that a man is married. In 2001, only 41 percent 

of poor men (0 to 99% of poverty level) were married, compared to 66 percent of men 

living at or above 300 percent of the poverty level. 

• The percentage of men living at or above 300 percent of the poverty line who were 

married fluctuated very little over the 10 year period (between 66 and 68 percent). 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

Percentage Married Among Males Ages 18 and Older by Educational Achievement: 

1991-2001 

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 

Total 64 63 63 63 63 62 61 62 62 62 61 

Less than high school 61 60 59 58 58 56 56 56 55 55 55 

High school diploma or GED 63 64 64 62 62 62 61 61 60 61 59 

Vocational/technical or some 

college 58 58 59 58 59 58 57 57 58 58 57 

College graduate 72 71 71 71 71 71 72 72 72 72 72 

Note: Estimates calculated by Child Trends based on analyses of the 1991-2001, March Supplement, Current Population Survey 

Source: Child Trends. (2002). "Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers." Washington, D.C.: Child Trends. 

• Between 1991 and 2001, men who were college graduates were more likely to get 

married than men with less education (72 percent compared to less than 60 percent in 

2001) 

Demographic and Human Capital Characteristics by Marital Status for Parents in a 

Romantic Relationship at Time of Birth, for Children Born 1998-2000 

Married 

All 

Unmarried 

Mother's Race* 

White 41.9% 13.8% 

Black 24.8% 54.7% 

Hispanic 25.4% 28.3% 

Other 7.9% 3.2% 

Father's Age (mean years) 31.7 26.8 

Mother's Education* 

Less than High School 16.6% 40.5% 

High School 19.9% 33.7% 

Some College 28.8% 22.8% 

College 34.6% 3.1% 

Father Employed 91.4% 74.9% 

Father's Health Limits Work 3.2% 6.3% 

*Mother and Father’s race and education are highly correlated 

Source: Bendheim-Thoman Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, Princeton University. “Diversity Among Unmarried Parents.” 

Fragile Families Research Brief No. 10, 2002. 

Note: Analyses use data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study which is representative of all non-marital births and 

nearly representative of marital births in U.S. cities with populations over 200,000. 

• Compared to married fathers, unmarried fathers are younger on average by about five 

years. 

• Unmarried fathers are less likely to be employed (74.9 percent) than married fathers 

(91.4 percent) and are more likely to have health problems that limit their ability to work 

(6.3 percent for unmarried as opposed to 3.2 percent for married). 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

• Unmarried mothers are more likely to be black (54.7 percent) and less likely to be white 

(13.8 percent) than married mothers (24.8 percent and 41.9 percent, respectively). 

Because mother’s and father’s race are highly correlated, it is likely that this is true for 

unmarried fathers as well. 

• Unmarried mothers are more likely to have less than a high school education (40.5 

percent) than married mothers (16.6 percent). Mother and father’s education levels are 

highly correlated so this is likely also true for unmarried fathers. 

Responses to the Statement, “It is better to get married than to go through life being 

single,” Among Men Ages 15-44, by Marital or Cohabiting Status, 2002 

Marital or cohabiting 

status 

Number 

of Men 

(000s) 

Strongly 

Agree Agree 

Neither 

Agree nor 

Disagree Disagree 

Strongly 

Disagree 

All 61,147 21.7% 44.3% 3.8% 24.9% 5.4% 

Currently Married 25,808 26.3% 46.7% 4.4% 19.6% 3.1% 

Currently Cohabitating 5,653 16.1% 37.8% 4.7% 33.6% 7.9% 

Never Married, Not 

Cohabitating 25,412 18.9% 43.0% 3.2% 27.7% 7.2% 

Formerly Married, Not 

Cohabitating 4,274 17.6% 46.3% 2.9% 27.7% 5.6% 

Source: Martinez GM, Chandra A., Abma JC, Jones J, Mosher WD. Fertility, Contraception, and Fatherhood: Data on Men and 

Women From Cycle 6 (2002) of the National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

23(26). 2006. 

• In 2002, most men aged 15-44 (66.0 percent) agreed or strongly agreed with the 

statement that it is better to get married than to go through life being single. 

• Currently married men were the most likely to agree or strongly agree (73.0 percent) that 

it is better to get married than to remain single. 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

Responses to the Statement, “It is better to get married than to go through life being 

single,” Among Men Ages 22-44, by Educational Attainment, 2002 

Number 

of Men 

(000s) 

Strongly 

Agree Agree 

Neither 

Agree 

nor 

Disagree Disagree 

Strongly 

Disagree 

All* 61,147 21.7% 44.3% 3.8% 24.9% 5.4% 

No high school diploma or GED 6,355 27.9% 47.5% 2.1% 19.6% 3.0% 

High school diploma or GED 15,659 21.7% 41.8% 4.5% 26.7% 5.3% 

Some college, no bachelor's degree 13,104 21.1% 42.1% 3.4% 27.0% 6.5% 

Bachelor's degree or higher 11,901 22.3% 42.6% 5.6% 22.6% 6.9% 

*Education data is limited to men aged 22-44. “All” category includes men 15-44. 

Source: Martinez GM, Chandra A., Abma JC, Jones J, Mosher WD. Fertility, Contraception, and Fatherhood: Data on Men and 

Women From Cycle 6 (2002) of the National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

23(26). 2006. 

• In 2002, most men aged 15-44 (66.0 percent) agreed or strongly agreed with the 

statement that it is better to get married than to go through life being single. 

• Three out of four men (75.4 percent) with less than a high school education agreed or 

strongly agreed with the statement that it is better to get married than to go through life 

being single. 

• About one in three men with a high school diploma/GED or higher disagreed or strongly 

disagreed that it is better to be married than single. 

Responses to the Statement, “It is better to get married than to go through life being 

single,” Among Men Ages 15-44, by Race/Ethnicity, 2002 

Number of 

Men 

(000s) 

Strongly 

Agree Agree 

Neither 

Agree nor 

Disagree Disagree 

Strongly 

Disagree 

All* 61,147 21.7% 44.3% 3.8% 24.9% 5.4% 

Hispanic or Latino 10,188 30.0% 47.2% 2.1% 16.6% 4.2% 

Non-Hispanic White 38,738 18.5% 45.0% 4.5% 26.2% 5.9% 

Non-Hispanic Black 6,940 26.4% 38.2% 2.8% 27.4% 5.2% 

*Includes men of other or multiple race and origin groups and not shown separately. 

Source: Martinez GM, Chandra A., Abma JC, Jones J, Mosher WD. Fertility, Contraception, and Fatherhood: Data on Men and 

Women From Cycle 6 (2002) of the National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

23(26). 2006. 

• In 2002, most men aged 15-44 (66.0 percent) agreed or strongly agreed with the 

statement that it is better to get married than to go through life being single. 

• Hispanic or Latino men were more likely than non-Hispanic white or non-Hispanic black 

men to agree or strongly agree that getting married is better than living life single (77.2 

percent compared to 63.5 percent and 64.6 percent, respectively). 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

Responses to the Statement, “Divorce is usually the best solution when a couple can’t 

seem to work out their marriage problems,” Among Men Ages 22-44, by Educational 

Attainment, 2002 

Number 

of Men 

(000s) 

Strongly 

Agree Agree

Neither 

Agree 

nor 

Disagree Disagree 

Strongly 

Disagree 

All* 61,147 7.7% 36.5% 1.9% 39.5% 14.4% 

No high 

school 

diploma or 

GED 6,355 6.7% 45.7% 1.5% 37.9% 8.3% 

High school 

diploma or 

GED 15,659 11.0% 37.9% 1.7% 36.1% 13.4% 

Some college, 

no bachelor's 

degree 13,104 6.5% 31.9% 1.5% 42.1% 18.1% 

Bachelor's 

degree or 

higher 11,901 6.2% 36.5% 2.4% 41.1% 13.9% 

*Education data is limited to men aged 22-44. “All” category includes men 15-44. 

Source: Martinez GM, Chandra A., Abma JC, Jones J, Mosher WD. Fertility, Contraception, and Fatherhood: Data on Men and 

Women From Cycle 6 (2002) of the National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

23(26). 2006. 

• In 2002, more men aged 15-44 disagreed or strongly disagreed (53.9 percent) than 

agreed or strongly agreed (44.2 percent) with the statement that divorce is the best 

solution when a couple cannot work out their marital problems. 

• More than half of men with less than a high school education agreed or strongly agreed 

with the statement that divorce is the best solution when a couple cannot work out their 

marital problems (52.4 percent). 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

Responses to the Statement, “Divorce is usually the best solution when a couple can’t 

seem to work out their marriage problems,” Among Men Ages 15-44, by Marital or 

Cohabiting Status, 2002 

Marital or cohabiting 

status 

Number 

of Men 

(000s) 

Strongly 

Agree Agree 

Neither 

Agree nor 

Disagree Disagree 

Strongly 

Disagree 

All 61,147 7.7% 36.5% 1.9% 39.5% 14.4% 

Currently Married 2,5808 6.5% 35.9% 1.1% 39% 17.4% 

Currently 

Cohabitating 5,653 9.9% 38.4% 3.9% 36.2% 11.5% 

Never Married, Not 

cohabitating 25,412 7.7% 35.7% 2.2% 41.4% 13% 

Formerly Married, Not 

Cohabitating 4,274 12.1% 42.7% 1.9% 34.5% 8.8% 

Source: Martinez GM, Chandra A., Abma JC, Jones J, Mosher WD. Fertility, Contraception, and Fatherhood: Data on Men and 

Women From Cycle 6 (2002) of the National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

23(26). 2006. 

• In 2002, more men aged 15-44 disagreed or strongly disagreed (53.9 percent) than 

agreed or strongly agreed (44.2 percent) with the statement that divorce is the best 

solution when a couple cannot work out their marital problems. 

• Formerly married, not cohabitating men were the most likely to agree or strongly agree 

(54.8 percent) that divorce is the best solution. 

• Currently married men were the most likely to strongly disagree that divorce is the best 

solution (17.4 percent). 

Responses to the Statement, “Divorce is usually the best solution when a couple can’t 

seem to work out their marriage problems,” 

 Among Men Ages 15-44, by Race/Ethnicity, 2002 

Number 

of Men 

(000s) 

Strongly 

Agree Agree 

Neither 

Agree nor 

Disagree Disagree 

Strongly 

Disagree 

All* 61,147 7.7% 36.5% 1.9% 39.5% 14.4% 

Hispanic or Latino 10,188 12.0% 43.5% 1.5% 34.2% 8.8% 

Non-Hispanic White 38,738 6.1% 37.2% 2.2% 38.7% 15.8% 

Non-Hispanic Black 6,940 12.4% 31.6% 1.6% 38.8% 15.6% 

*Includes men of other or multiple race and origin groups and not shown separately. 

Source: Martinez GM, Chandra A., Abma JC, Jones J, Mosher WD. Fertility, Contraception, and Fatherhood: Data on Men and 

Women From Cycle 6 (2002) of the National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

23(26). 2006. 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

• In 2002, more men aged 15-44 disagreed or strongly disagreed (53.9 percent) than 

agreed or strongly agreed (44.2 percent) with the statement that divorce is the best 

solution when a couple cannot work out their marital problems. 

• Non-Hispanic white men were less likely than Hispanic or non-Hispanic black men to 

strongly agree that divorce is usually the best solution (6.1 percent compared with 12.0 

percent and 12.4 percent respectively). 

• Hispanic or Latino men were the most likely across racial/ethnic groups to agree or 

strongly agree that divorce is usually the best solution (55.5 percent), compared with 

43.3 percent for non-Hispanic white men and 44.0 percent for non-Hispanic black men. 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

Marriage Expectations Among Unmarried Parents by Relationship Status 

(Children Born 1998-2000) 

Mothers Fathers 

All unmarried parents 

No chance 18.8% 7.6% 

A little chance 9.5% 5.9% 

50/50 chance 18.6% 18.2% 

Pretty good chance 21.2% 25.2% 

Almost certain chance 31.9% 43.1% 

Cohabiting parents 

No chance 2.8% 1.9% 

A little chance 4.8% 3.5% 

50/50 chance 17.0% 13.3% 

Pretty good chance 25.1% 25.6% 

Almost certain chance 50.3% 55.7% 

Romantic, not cohabiting

No chance 12.0% 8.7% 

A little chance 12.9% 6.8% 

50/50 chance 25.4% 23.1% 

Pretty good chance 25.9% 27.2% 

Almost certain chance 23.9% 34.2% 

Not Romantic 

No chance 75.8% 35.0% 

A little chance 14.6% 16.3% 

50/50 chance 7.6% 26.8% 

Pretty good chance 1.0% 15.5% 

Almost certain chance 1.0% 6.5% 

Sample size 1,756 1,276 

Source: Waller, M. (2001). High hopes: Unwed parents' expectations about marriage. 

Children and Youth Services Review, 23(6/7), 457-484. 

Note: Analyses use data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study which is representative of all non-marital births and 

nearly representative of marital births in U.S. cities with populations over 200,000. 

• Overall, new, unmarried parents expect to marry the other parent of their child. More 

than 7 out of ten mothers (71.7 percent) and 8 out of ten fathers (86.5 percent) report a 

50/50 percent chance of marriage or higher. 

• More fathers than mothers report an almost certain chance of marriage (43.1 percent for 

fathers and 31.9 percent for mothers) and fewer fathers (7.6 percent) report no chance 

of marriage compared to mothers (18.8 percent). 

• More than half of fathers in cohabiting relationships reported an almost certain chance of 

marriage (55.7 percent), compared to fathers in a romantic, not cohabitating relationship 

(34.2 percent) or a non-romantic relationship (6.5 percent). 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

• Fathers in cohabitating relationships appear slightly more likely than mothers to report 

an almost certain chance of marriage (55.7 percent for fathers and 50.3 percent for 

mothers). 

Expectations of Marriage for Parents in a Romantic Relationship at Time of Birth, 

by Relationship Status and Other Selected Demographic Characteristics 

(Children Born 1998-2000) 

Married 

All 

Unmarried 

Cohabitating/ 

High Chance 

of Marriage 

Cohabitating/ 

Low Chance 

of Marriage 

Visiting**/ 

High 

Chance of 

Marriage 

Visiting/ 

Low 

Chance of 

Marriage 

Mother's Race* 

White 41.9% 13.8% 20.4% 9.9% 8.7% 7.0% 

Black 24.8% 54.7% 41.9% 53.4% 68.0% 70.3% 

Hispanic 25.4% 28.3% 34.4% 33.6% 20.0% 19.8% 

Other 7.9% 3.2% 3.4% 3.1% 3.2% 2.9% 

Father's Age (mean years) 31.7 26.8 26.9 27.7 25.7% 27.0% 

Mother's Education* 

Less than High School 16.6% 40.5% 38.1% 47.7% 36.2 45.5 

High School 19.9% 33.7% 34.3% 29.9% 36.7% 31.87% 

Some College 28.8% 22.8% 24.0% 20.6% 24.2% 19.9% 

College 34.6% 3.1% 3.6% 1.8% 2.9% 2.8% 

Father Employed 91.4% 74.9% 81.9% 75.8% 70.3% 63.2% 

Father's Health Limits Work 3.2% 6.3% 6.3% 8.6% 4.0% 7.3% 

*Mother and Father’s race and education are highly correlated. 

**Visiting refers to unmarried parents that are in a romantic relationship but not living together. 

Source: Bendheim-Thoman Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, Princeton University. “Diversity Among Unmarried Parents.” 

Fragile Families Research Brief No. 10, 2002. 

Note: Analyses use data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study which is representative of all non-marital births and 

nearly representative of marital births in U.S. cities with populations over 200,000. 

• Fathers in cohabiting relationships with a reported high chance of marriage are more 

likely to be employed (81.9 percent) than fathers in cohabiting relationships with a low 

chance of marriage (75.8 percent) or those in a visiting relationship (70.3 percent and 

63.2 percent). 

• Cohabiting and visiting parents with high expectations for marriage have higher 

education levels (based on mother’s education) than those with low expectations for 

marriage. 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and Marriage 

Marriage Expectations and Union Transitions for Parents that were Romantically 

Involved but Unmarried at Time of Child’s Birth (Children Born 1998-2000) 

Expectations about marrying partner at time of child’ birth

Mother optimistic, father pessimistic 9.2% 

Father optimistic, mother pessimistic 16.0% 

Both optimistic 60.9% 

Neither optimistic 13.9% 

Union transitions 12–18 months after child’s birth

Married at follow-up 11.7% 

Romantic relationship at follow-up 59.5% 

No romantic relationship at follow-up 28.8% 

Source: Waller, M., & McLanahan, S. (2005). "His" And "Her" Marriage expectations: Determinants and consequences. 

Journal of Marriage & Family, 67, 53-67. 

Note: Analyses use data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study which is representative of all 

on-marital births and nearly representative of marital births in U.S. cities with populations over 200,000. 

• Overall, a high proportion of parents (60.9 percent) expected to marry their partner at the 

time of their child’s birth, and the majority of parents share this expectation with their 

partner (60.9 percent). 

• When partners disagree regarding marriage expectations (25.2 percent of all cases), 

fathers were more likely than mothers to be optimistic. 

• Only about one in ten (11.7 percent) of couples had actually married at the follow-up 

interview, 12-18 months after the birth of their child. Nearly three in ten couples (28.8 

percent) were no longer romantically involved.