Part 2 - Single Parent Families Statistics/Numbers

As promised here is part two of statistics regarding single parent families, I did state on Tuesday that I would give you my thoughts on what all these stats mean. However, there are a lot more stats to review and I just hate to give you all of these statistics in one seating it is way too much. In fact when I was hunting them down by the end of the day I was wiped out! It is a lot and the stats are bit harsh, scary and down right sad...

So I hope you don't mind I will in stead post part here for today and then post the other half on Tuesday, July 24th then on Thursday, July 26th I will give you my thoughts!


What's the "average" single parent really like? According to the U.S. Census Bureau...

 She is a Mother:

·        Approximately 84% of custodial parents are mothers

·        16% of custodial parents are fathers

 She is Divorced or Separated:

 Of the mothers who are custodial parents:

·        45% are currently divorced or separated

·        34.2% have never been married

·        19% are married (In most cases, these numbers represent women who have remarried)

·        1.7% were widowed

 Of the fathers who are custodial parents:

·        57.8% are divorced or separated

·        20.9% have never married

·        20% are currently married (In most cases, these numbers represent men who have remarried)

·        Fewer than 1% were widowed

She is Employed:

   79.5% of custodial single mothers are gainfully employed

·        49.8% work full time, year round

·        29.7% work part-time or part-year

·        90% of custodial single fathers are gainfully employed

·        71.7% work full time, year round

·        18.4% work part-time or part-year

She and Her Children Do Not Live in Poverty:

·        27% of custodial single mothers and their children live in poverty

·        12.9% of custodial single fathers and their children live in poverty

She Does Not Receive Public Assistance:

  Among custodial single mothers:

·        22% receive Medicaid

·        23.5% receive food stamps

·        12% receive some form of public housing or rent subsidy

·        5% receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

She is 40 Years Old or Older:

·        39.1% of custodial single mothers are 40 years old or older

She is Raising One Child:

·        54% of custodial mothers are raising one child from the absent parent

·        46% have two or more children living with them

U.S. Census Bureau in November, 2009

And, so it goes...