NRFC 

Quick Statistics 

September 2008 

Take Time to Be a Dad Today 

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Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

Living Arrangements of Children Under 18, by Nativity of Parents (2002), 

Numbers in thousands 

Children with Two 

Native Born Parents 

Children with at Least 

One Foreign-Born 

Parent 

Living Arrangement All Children Number 

Percent of 

Native 

Born Number 

Percent of 

Foreign 

Born 

Total 72,321 55,263 100% 14,172 100% 

Two Parents 49,666 38,254 69.2% 11,411 80.5% 

Mother Only 16,473 14,192 25.7% 2,281 16.1% 

Father Only 3,297 2,817 5.1% 480 3.4% 

Neither Parent 2,885 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Demographic Supplement to the March 2002 Current Population Survey. From Fields, J. 

(2003). Children's living arrangements and characteristics: March 2002 (Current Population Reports). 

Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau 

• Approximately 14 million children with at least one foreign-born parent lived in the 

United States in 2002. Of these children, 80 percent lived with both parents, and 

16 percent lived with their mothers only. 

• 3.4 percent of children with at least one foreign-born parent lived in a father-only 

home. 

• Children of foreign-born parents were 10 percent less likely to live with a single 

parent in 2002, than were children of native-born parents. 
 

NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

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Living Arrangements of Children Under 18, by Parents’ Current Labor Force Participation 

(2002), Numbers in thousands 

Arrangement and Labor 

Force Participation

Total 

Number 

Percent of All 

Children 

Percent of Children 

by Presence of 

Parents 

Total 72,321 100 100 

Two Parents 49,666 68.7 100 

Both parents in labor force 31,007 42.9 62.4 

Father only in labor force 14,969 20.7 30.1 

Mother only in labor force 2,169 3.0 4.4 

Neither parent in labor 

force 1,520 2.1 3.1 

Mother Only 16,473 22.8 100 

In the labor force 12,706 17.6 77.1 

Not in the labor force 3,767 5.2 22.9 

Father Only 3,297 4.6 100 

In the labor force 2,925 4.0 88.7 

Not in the labor force 372 .5 11.3 

Neither Parent 2,885 4.0 100 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Demographic Supplement to the March 2002 Current Population Survey. From Fields, J. 

(2003). Children's living arrangements and characteristics: March 2002 (Current Population Reports). Washington, DC: U.S. 

Census Bureau 

• Regardless of family structure, the majority of children live in homes where at 

least one parent currently participates in the labor force. 

• Of children living with both parents in the United States, the largest proportion 

have two parents participating in the labor force (42.9%), followed by fathers only 

(20.7%), mothers only (3%), and finally, neither parent (2.1%). 

• For children living with only one parent, children living with single fathers are 

more likely to have that parent in the labor force (88.7%) than are children living 

with single mother (77.1%). 
 

NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

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Living Arrangements of Children Under 18, by Poverty Status (2002), 

Numbers in thousands 

Living Arrangement

Total 

Number 

Below 100 

Percent of 

Poverty 

100 to 199 Percent 

of Poverty 

200 Percent of 

Poverty or Above 

Total Number 72,321 12,239 15,686 44,396 

Percent of Total 100% 16.9% 21.7% 61.4% 

Two Parents (Number) 49,666 3,895 9,147 36,623 

Percent by Living 

Arrangement 100% 7.8% 18.4% 73.7% 

Mother Only (Number) 16,473 6,326 4,949 5,199 

Percent by Living 

Arrangement 100 38.4% 30.0% 31.6% 

Father Only (Number) 3,297 638 935 1,723 

Percent by Living 

Arrangement 100% 19.4% 28.4% 52.3% 

Neither Parent (Number) 2,885 1,380 655 851 

Percent by Living 

Arrangement 100% 47.8% 22.7% 29.5% 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Demographic Supplement to the March 2002 Current Population Survey. From Fields, J. 

(2003). Children's living arrangements and characteristics: March 2002 (Current Population Reports). Washington, DC: 

U.S. Census Bureau 

• The majority of children under age 18 in the United States live at or above 200 

percent of the poverty line (61.4%). 

• Children living with neither parent are the most likely group to be living in poverty 

(47.8%), followed by children living with mothers only (38.4%), children living with 

fathers only (19.4%), and finally, children living with two parents (7.8%). 

• Children living with single mothers are almost twice as likely as are children living 

with single fathers to be living below the poverty line. 
 

NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

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Living Arrangements of Children by Age of Child (2006), Numbers in thousands

Living Arrangement 

Both Parents Mother Only Father Only Neither Parent Age of 

Child Total # % # % # % # % 

Under 6 

years 49,661 16,867 69.1% 16,190 22.7% 16,604 4.4% 16,867 3.8% 

6-11 years 17,161 5,532 68.4% 5,472 23.1% 6,157 4.5% 5,532 4.0% 

12-17 

years 3,458 1,083 64.9% 1,068 24.1% 1,307 5.1% 1,083 6.0% 

Total 73,664 49,661 67.4% 17,161 23.3% 3,458 4.7% 3,383 4.6% 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2006 Annual Social and Economic Supplement; C2. Household 

Relationship and Living Arrangements of Children/1 Under 18 Years, by Age, Sex, Race, Hispanic Origin/2: 2006

• Across all ages, the majority of children under 18 in the United States live in 

households with two parents, followed by households with mothers only. 

• Older children ages12-17 years, compared to younger children under 6 years, 

are less likely to live with both parents (64.9% and 69.1%, respectively). 

• Across all age groups, children are at least four times as likely to live in motheronly homes compared to father-only homes. 
 

NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

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Percent of Children in Father Absent Families by Race, 1960-2004 

Percent of Children with Absent Fathers1

 Total White Black Hispanic 

1960 11.2% 8.0% 31.0% -- 

1970 11.9% 9.6% 39.2% -- 

1980 21.7% 15.7% 55.9% 23.1% 

1990 24.4% 18.0% 58.7% 30.4% 

2000 26.4% 20.4% 52.0% 30.6% 

2004 27.6% 21.3% 59.0% 30.1% 1 Includes children under age 18 living with mothers only or living with other relatives. 

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

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

National Fatherhood Initiative. Pg 23-35 

. 

• Between 1960 and 2004, the percentage of children under age 18 living in father 

absent homes increased from 11.2% to 27.6%. 

• More black children live in father absent homes than do Hispanic or white 

children. 

• The greatest increase in children living without fathers in their homes occurred 

between 1970 and 1980, when the percentage rose from 11.9% to 21.7%. 
 

NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

Percent of Children Living with Single Parents by Race/Ethnicity and Percent of Children 

Living with Single Parents by Presence of Cohabiting Partners (2002) 

23

5

11

33

16

4

14

29

48

5 6

30

13

2

11

40

25

5

12

46

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Children with Single

Mother

Children with Single

Father

Children Living with a

Single Cohabiting

Mother

Children Living with a

Single Cohabiting

Father

Percent

All Children Non-Hispanic White Black Asian and Pacific Islander Hispanic

Percent of all children with 

a single parent 

Percent of children living with a 

cohabiting single parent out of 

children living with a single 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Demographic Supplement to the March 2002 Current Population Survey. From Fields, J. 

(2003). Children's living arrangements and characteristics: March 2002 (Current Population Reports). Washington, DC: 

U.S. Census Bureau 

• In 2002, 11 percent of children living with single mothers also lived with their 

mothers’ cohabiting partners. 

• Children living with single fathers were much more likely than children living with 

single mothers to have a father’s unmarried partner living in the house. 

Specifically, 33 percent of children living with single fathers also lived with their 

fathers’ partners in 2002. 

• Hispanic children living with single fathers were the most likely group to also live 

with their fathers’ partners, followed by Asian/Pacific Islanders, African 

Americans, and non-Hispanic Whites. 

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NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

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Family Living Arrangements by Race, 1960-2004, Numbers in thousands 

Year 

 1970 1980 1990 2000 2004 

Total 

Two-Parent Family 

25,823 

87.2% 

25,231 

78.5% 

24,921 

71.9% 

25,771 

68.7% 

26,377 

67.6% 

Single-Parent Family 

3,808 

12.8% 

6,920 

21.5% 

9,749 

28.1% 

11,725 

31.3% 

12,624 

32.4% 

White 

Two-Parent Family 

23,477 

89.9% 

22,628 

82.9% 

21,905 

77.4% 

22,241 

73.9% 

22,499 

73.1% 

Single-Parent Family 

2,638 

10.1% 

4,664 

17.1% 

6,389 

22.6% 

7,838 

26.1% 

8,506 

26.9% 

Black 

Two-Parent Family 

2,071 

64.3% 

1,961 

48.1% 

2,006 

39.4% 

2,135 

38.6% 

2,160 

37.0% 

Single-Parent Family 

1,148 

35.7% 

2,114 

51.9% 

3,081 

60.6% 

3,395 

61.4% 

3,684 

63.0% 

Hispanic 

Two-Parent Family -- 

1,626 

74.1% 

2,289 

66.8% 

3,625 

66.0% 

4,273 

65.0% 

Single-Parent Family -- 

568 

25.9% 

1,140 

33.2% 

1,878 

34.1% 

2,300 

35.0% 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. “All parent/Child Situations, by Type, Race, and Hispanic Origin of Household or Reference Person: 

1970 to Present; All Races, White only, Black only, and Hispanic only.” Table FM-2. Internet Release Date September 21, 2006, 

National Fatherhood Initiative. (2007). Father Facts 5. Gaithersburg, MD: National Fatherhood Initiative. Pg 24 

• Between 1970 and 2004, the percentage of two-parent families in comparison to 

all families with children decreased from 87.2% to 67.6%. 

• Beginning with the first available data point in 1980, more than half of black 

families with children were single-parent families, rising to 63% in 2004. 

• The majority of white and Hispanic families are two parent families. 
 

NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

1 (877)4DAD411 Page 8 of 10 www.fatherhood.gov

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

Year 

 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2004 

Total Number

63,72

7 69,162 63,427 64,137 72,012 73,205 

Two Parents 

55,87

7 

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 number of children in living the United States 

increased by almost 10 million. 

• 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 singlemother 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. 
 

NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

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Single Parent Family Groups with Own Children Under 18, by Age of Parent (2006), 

Numbers in thousands 

Gender of Parent 

Father Mother 

 Age of Parent Total Number Percent Number Percent 

Under 20 291 19 6.5% 272 93.5% 

20-29 3,627 560 15.4% 3,067 84. 6% 

30-39 4,380 812 18.5% 3,568 81.5% 

40-49 3,528 778 22.1% 2,750 77.9% 

50-64 1,012 311 30.7% 700 69.2% 

65 and Older 68 21 30.9% 47 69.1% 

Total 12,906 2,501 19.4% 10,404 80.6% 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2006 Annual Social and Economic Supplement; Table FG5. One-Parent 

Family Groups with Own Children Under 18, by Labor Force Status, and Race and Hispanic Origin/1 of the Reference Person: 2006

• The largest number of single-parent homes are headed by mothers between the 

ages of 30 and 39, followed by mothers between the ages of 20 and 29, and 

mothers between the ages of 40 and 49. 

• Single parent homes are more than four times more likely to be headed by 

mothers as opposed to fathers. This difference is most pronounced in 

households headed by parents under the age of 20, where 94 percent of homes 

with children are headed by mothers as opposed to fathers. 

• Children are 14 times more likely to live with a teen single-parent mother (93.5%) 

compared to with a teen single-parent father (6.5%). 
 

NRFC Quick Statistics 

Fathers and the Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 

1 (877)4DAD411 Page 10 of 10 www.fatherhood.gov

Living Arrangements of Children, by Fathers’ Family Background (2002) 

Fathers’ Living Arrangement with 

Biological Children Under Age 19 

Childhood living 

arrangement of father 

up to age 18

With 

Children 

Not with 

Children 

Lives with Some 

and Not with 

Others 

Intact 76.0% 12.9% 11.2% 

Not Intact 67.3% 17.6% 15.2% 

Source: Martinez GM, Chandra A., Abma J.C., 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 

• Men who grew up in intact families were 8.7% more likely to live with all of their 

children under age 18 than were men who grew up in non-intact families. 

• Men who grew up in non-intact families were more likely to either not live with 

their children (17.6%) or only live with only some of their children (15.2%) than 

were men who grew up in intact families.