NRFC 

Quick Statistics 

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  March 2008 

 

Nonresident Fathers 

Living Arrangements of Children Under Age 18, 1960-2004, Numbers in thousands 

Year 

 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2004 

Total Number 63,727 69,162 63,427 64,137 72,012 73,205 

Two Parents 

55,877 

87.7% 

58,939 

85.2% 

48,624 

76.7% 

46,503 

72.5% 

49,795 

69.1% 

49,603 

67.8% 

One Parent 

5,829 

9.1% 

8,199 

11.9% 

12,466 

19.7% 

15,867 

24.7% 

19,220 

26.7% 

20,474 

28.0% 

Father Only 

724 

1.1% 

784 

1.1% 

1,060 

1.7% 

1,993 

3.1% 

3,058 

4.2% 

3,402 

4.6% 

Mother Only 

8.0% 

5,015 

7,452 

10.8% 

11,406 

18% 

13,874 

21.6% 

16,162 

22.4% 

17,072 

23.3% 

Neither Parent 

2,021 

3.2% 

2,024 

2.9% 

2,337 

3.7% 

1,768 

2.8% 

2,997 

4.2% 

3,129 

4.3% 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. “Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 years Old: 1960 to the Present.” Table CH-1. Internet 

Release Date September 21, 2006. National Fatherhood Initiative. (2007). Father Facts 5. Gaithersburg, MD: 

National Fatherhood Initiative. Pg 23 

• Between 1960 and 2004, the percentage of children living in single-parent households 

increased from 9.1% to 28%. 

• Between 1960 and 2004, most children living with only one parent lived in single-mother 

homes, as opposed to single-father homes. 

• The percentage of children living with fathers only increased from 1.1% in 1960 to 4.6% 

in 2004, but remained consistently lower than the percentage of children living with 

mothers only. 

 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Nonresident Fathers 

Percentage of Nonresident and Resident Fathers of Infants by Age, 

Fragile Families 12-month Follow-Up (1999-2001) 

Age Nonresident Fathers Resident Fathers 

<20 years 16.5% 4.1% 

20-24 years 37.6% 19.0% 

25-29 years 23.0% 24.6% 

30-34years 10.4% 25.9% 

35+ years 12.5% 26.4% 

Source: The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, 12-month Follow-Up (Child Trends’ analyses, 2007) 

Note: Data is representative of parents in cities with populations of 200,000 or more. 

• The majority (54.1 percent) of nonresident fathers of infants are 24 years of age or 

younger, whereas 76.9 percent of resident fathers are 25 years of age or older. 

Percentage of Nonresident and Resident Fathers of Infants, by Education Level, 

Fragile Families 12-month Follow-Up (1999-2001) 

Education Level 

Nonresident 

Fathers Resident Fathers 

Less than high school 37.3% 24.2% 

High school graduate 37.9% 33.5% 

Some college + 24.8% 42.3% 

Source: The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, 12-month Follow-Up (Child Trends’ analyses, 2007) 

Note: Data is representative of parents in cities with populations of 200,000 or more. 

• Compared with resident fathers, a larger proportion of nonresident fathers of infants 

have less than a high school education (37.3 percent vs. 24.2 percent). 

Percentage of Nonresident and Resident Fathers of Infants, by Race/Ethnicity, 

Fragile Families 12-month Follow-Up (1999-2001) 

Race/Ethnicity 

Nonresident 

Fathers Resident Fathers 

Non-Hispanic White 18.6% 39.3% 

Non-Hispanic Black 50.9% 21.5% 

Hispanic 23.6% 32.8% 

Other 7.0% 6.5% 

Source: The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, 12-month Follow-Up (Child Trends’ analyses, 2007) 

Note: Data is representative of parents in cities with populations of 200,000 or more. 

• The majority of nonresident fathers of infants are non-Hispanic blacks (50.9 percent). 

Non-Hispanic whites comprise the largest percentage of resident fathers (39.3 percent). 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Nonresident Fathers 

Satisfaction with Visits for Nonresident Fathers (Ages 15-44), by Age, 2002 

Percent Satisfaction with Visits* 

who have 

contact 

with their 

children 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 

Mean Level 

of 

Satisfaction 

Total 73.6% 41.1% 9.7% 16.5% 10.6% 22.2% 4.6 

15-29 

years 80.3% 38.5% 4.6% 16.7% 11.6% 28.5% 5.2 

30-44 

years 71.8% 41.8% 11.0% 16.4% 10.3% 20.5% 4.4 

*Satisfaction scale goes from very dissatisfied (1) to very satisfied (10). 

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, about three in four nonresident fathers (73.6 percent) had contact with their 

children. A large percentage of fathers (41.1 percent), expressed dissatisfaction with 

their visits with their children, rating them only 1 or 2 on a 1 to 10 satisfaction scale. 

• Older fathers, those 30-44 years of age, were more likely than younger fathers to rate 

their visits less than a 5 on the satisfaction scale (69.2 percent vs. 59.8 percent). 

Frequency with which Fathers (Ages 15-44) with Children Under 5 Years of Age Fed and 

Ate Meals with their Children in the Last Four Weeks, by Living Arrangement, 2002

Number of 

Men (000s) Not at all 

Less than 

once a 

week – 

About once 

a week 

Several 

times a 

week Every day 

Resident father 13,995 1.9% 2.8% 21.5% 73.8% 

Nonresident father 1,938 52.8% 20.0% 18.5% 8.7% 

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, nearly three-quarters of fathers living with their children under 5 reported 

feeding their children or eating a meal with them every day (73.8 percent). By 

comparison only 8.7 percent of nonresident fathers reported eating meals with their 

children every day. 

• More than half (52.8 percent) of nonresident fathers with young children reported that 

they did not eat with or feed their children at all in the past four weeks. 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Nonresident Fathers 

Frequency with which Fathers (Ages 15-44) with Children Ages 5-18 Ate Meals with their 

Children in the Last Four Weeks, by Living Arrangement, 2002 

Number of 

Men (000s) Not at all 

Less than once a 

week – About once 

a week 

Several 

times a 

week Every day 

Resident father 18,251 1.9% 3.8% 22.8% 71.6% 

Nonresident father 6,274 56.8% 24.7% 15.1% 3.4% 

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, the majority of fathers living with their children ages 5-18 reported eating a meal 

with them every day (71.6 percent). By comparison only 3.4 percent of nonresident 

fathers reported eating meals with their children every day. 

• More than half (56.8 percent) of fathers that did not live with their children reported that 

they did not eat with them at all in the past four weeks. 

Frequency with which Fathers (Ages 15-44) with Children Under 5 Years of Age Bathed, 

Diapered or Dressed their Children in the Last Four Weeks, by Living Arrangement, 2002 

Number of 

Men (000s) Not at all 

Less than once a 

week – About once 

a week 

Several 

times a 

week Every day 

Resident father 13,995 8.4% 9.3% 29.9% 52.5% 

Nonresident father 1,938 55.9% 18.1% 18.3% 7.7% 

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. 

• Nonresident fathers with children under 5 years of age were far less likely to report 

bathing, diapering or dressing their children every day (7.7 percent) than fathers who did 

live with their children (52.5 percent). 

• More than half (55.9 percent) of nonresident fathers with young children reported that 

they did not eat with or feed their children at all in the past four weeks. 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Nonresident Fathers 

Frequency with which Fathers (Ages 15-44) with Children Under 5 Years of Age Played 

with their Children in the Last Four Weeks, by Living Arrangement, 2002 

Number of 

Men (000s) Not at all 

Less than once a 

week – About once a 

week 

Several 

times a 

week Every day 

Resident father 13,995 .9% 1.4% 16.6% 81.1% 

Nonresident father 1,938 48.6% 17.4% 24.0% 10.0% 

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. 

• The majority (81.1 percent) of resident fathers with children under 5 reported playing 

with their children everyday. By comparison, only 10 percent of nonresident fathers 

reported playing with their children every day and only 24 percent reported playing with 

their children several times a week. 

• Almost half (48.6 percent) of nonresident fathers with children under 5 years of age 

reported that they did not play with their children at all in the past four weeks. 

Frequency with which Fathers (Ages 15-44) with Children Under 5 Years of Age Read to 

their Children in the Last Four Weeks, by Living Arrangement, 2002 

Number of 

Men (000s) Not at all 

Less than once a 

week – About once 

a week 

Several times 

a week Every day 

Resident father 13,995 17.2% 26.5% 31.0% 25.3% 

Nonresident father 1,938 61.0% 22.0% 12.2% 4.9% 

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. 

• About one in four resident fathers (25.3 percent) with children under 5 years of age 

reported reading to their children every day. By comparison, less than 5 percent of 

nonresident fathers read to their children every day and 61 percent had not read to their 

children at all in the past four weeks. 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Nonresident Fathers 

Frequency with which Fathers (Ages 15-44) with Children Ages 5-18 Years Helped their 

Children with Homework or Checked that they did Homework in the Last Four Weeks, 

by Living Arrangement, 2002 

Number of 

Men (000s) Not at all 

Less than once a 

week – About once a 

week 

Several times 

a week Every day 

Resident father 18,251 18.2% 24.3% 28.8% 28.7% 

Nonresident father 6,274 73.6% 18.2% 4.8% 3.4% 

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. 

• Resident fathers were far more likely to report helping their children ages 5-18 with 

homework or checking that their children completed homework on a daily basis than 

nonresident fathers (28.7 percent vs. 3.4 percent). 

• Almost three in four nonresident fathers (73.6 percent) reported that they did not help 

their children with homework or check that they did homework at all in the past four 

weeks. 

Frequency with which Fathers (Ages 15-44) with Children Ages 5-18 Years Talked to their 

Children About Things that Happened During the Day in the Last Four Weeks, 

by Living Arrangement, 2002 

Number of 

Men (000s) Not at all 

Less than once a 

week – About once a 

week 

Several times 

a week Every day 

Resident father 18,251 2.5% 10.4% 23.6% 63.6% 

Nonresident father 6,274 42.2% 31.4% 18.3% 8.1% 

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. 

• More than half (63.6 percent) of fathers who lived with their children ages 5-18 reported 

that they talked to their children daily about things that happened during the day. By 

comparison, only 8.1 percent of nonresident fathers reported the same. 

• More than four in ten nonresident fathers (42.2 percent) reported that they had not talked 

to their children ages 5-18 about daily occurrences in the past four weeks. Only 2.5 

percent of resident fathers reported the same. 
 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Nonresident Fathers 

Frequency with which Fathers (Ages 15-44) with Children Ages 5-18 Years Took their 

Children to or from Activities in the Last Four Weeks, by Living Arrangement, 2002 

Number of 

Men (000s) Not at all 

Less than once a 

week – About once a 

week 

Several times 

a week Every day 

Resident father 18,251 19.4% 26.9% 34.9% 18.8% 

Nonresident father 6,274 72.2% 19.9% 5.0% 1.9% 

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. 

• About 3 in 4 nonresident fathers (72.2 percent) reported never having taken their 

children to or from activities in the past four weeks. By comparison, only 19.4 percent of 

resident fathers reported the same.