The Complex Living Arrangements of Children and Their Unmarried Parents
Rose M. Kreider and Diana B. Elliott, Housing and Household Economics Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau
Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America Detroit, MI April 30–May 2, 2009
Introduction
For more than 30 years, the percentage of children living with two married parents has declined. Meanwhile, the percentage of children living with one parent has been on the rise.
Percent of children living with two married parents, one parent, and no parents: Selected Years, 1971 to 2006
83 74 67
Since 2007, CPS data can show additional detail about children living with unmarried parents—whether they are living with one or two parents. This poster explores whether children live with 1) two unmarried parents, 2) a parent who is cohabiting or living with another adult or, 3) one parent alone.
Types of Children’s Living Arrangements
Across all age groups, about seven in ten children live with married parents.* Younger children are more likely to live with two unmarried parents than are older children.
* The percentage of children age 12-17 who live with two married parents, at 68.7, is statistically lower than 70 percent, and differs statistically from the percentage for children age 6-11, 70.2 percent.
The Well-Being of Children Living With Unmarried Parents
About 9 out of 10 children living with married parents* or with a sole adult parent have health insurance, compared with about 8 out of 10 children living with two unmarried parents*, or with a parent who lives with another adult.
* The percentage of children who live with married parents and have health insurance (91.5 percent) is statistically different from 90 percent. The percentage of children who live with two unmarried parents and
Conclusions
The new CPS data allow us to look at the living arrangements of children and their unmarried parents in greater detail. • Most children live with two married parents and this proportion across all age groups is about 7 in 10. • While most children with unmarried parents are living only with their mother, 11 percent of all children under the age of 1 live with two unmarried parents. A higher percentage of children age 12 to 17 live with a sole parent than children under the age of 1. • Living arrangements vary according to the child’s race and ethnicity. Twelve percent of Hispanic children age 0 to 2 live with two unmarried parents. For black children age 3 and over, a higher percentage live with a sole parent than live in other arrangements. • The children of married parents fare better than children in other living arrangements on a number of indicators of wellbeing. A higher percentage live with a parent who has at least some college education and owns their own home.
The proportion of all children living with parents who live in married couple families varies across race and origin groups. Among all children under age 18, more than eight in ten Asian* children, more than threequarters of White* children, two-thirds of Hispanic children, and more than one-third of Black* children live with two married parents.
*These groups include children reported as single race, non-Hispanic.
One-quarter (23 percent) of Black children age 0 to 2 are living with one parent and another adult.
More than three-quarters of children with married parents and over half of children living with one parent and another adult live in homes that are owned. About 6 in 10 children living with two unmarried parents or living with a sole parent* lived in rented housing.
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Data
•2008 Current Population Survey’s (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) •Conducted in February, March, and April •100,000 addresses; nationally representative •In 2007, CPS began to 1) ask a direct cohabitation question and 2) identify a second parent when present •New questions give more detail about the living arrangements of children of unmarried parents and make it possible to identify children living with two unmarried parents. •71.3 million weighted (58,357 unweighted) never married children <18 living with at least one parent
Percent distribution of children and their living arrangements, by age of child
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
under 1 1 to 2 yrs 3 to 5 yrs 6 to 11 yrs 12 to 17 yrs
70 69 69 70 69 9 9 12 8 7 15 6 4 17 5 2 19 4 1
Mom sole adult Mom only with adult Mom with cohab Dad sole adult Dad only with adult Dad with cohab Two unmarried parents Married parents
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
33 79
Percent of children living with two married parents, by age and race of child
90 79 65 66 87 78 69
100
86 76 67 84
Percent of children living with a parent and another adult, by age and race of child
have health insurance (83.4 percent) is statistically different from 80 percent.
* The percentage of children living with a sole parent (64 percent) differs statistically from 60 percent.
11
90 80 70 60
Percent of children under 15 with health insurance, by living arrangement
100 90 80 70
23 17 7 11 3 8 5 12 15 7 6 10 12 6 4 10
92 83 82 90
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Percent of children who live in an owned or rented/1 home, by living arrangement
24 13 3 1971 1976 1981 3 1986 1991 One parent 1996 2001
28
78 64
5 2006
35
39
40
50 40 30 20 10 0
60 50 40 30
55 41
59 45 36 22
Married parents
No parents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, March Current Population Survey 1971-2006
Contact Information
Fertility and Family Statistics Branch 301-763-2416 Rose M. Kreider rose.kreider@census.gov Diana B. Elliott diana.b.elliott@census.gov
NOTE: The estimates in this poster (which may be shown in text, figures and tables) are based on responses from a sample of the population and may differ from actual values because of sampling variability or other factors. As a result, apparent differences between the estimates for two or more groups may not be statistically significant. All comparative statements have undergone statistical testing and are significant at the 90-percent confidence level unless otherwise noted. Further information about the source and accuracy of the estimates is available at: www.census.gov/apsd/techdoc/cps/cpsmar08.pdf.
0 to 2 yrs
White alone non-Hispanic
3 to 5 yrs
Black alone non-Hispanic
6 to 11 yrs
12 to 17 yrs
Hispanic
0 to 2 yrs
White alone non-Hispanic
3 to 5 yrs
6 to 11 yrs
12 to 17 yrs
Hispanic
Asian alone non-Hispanic
Black alone non-Hispanic
Asian alone non-Hispanic
20 10 0 Has insurance
Married parents Unmarried parents Parent & other adult Sole parent
Family demographers have noted that over time, more unmarried partner households have formed, many of which have children. So, many children previously counted as living with single parents may actually live with another parent or adult. However, most large, nationally representative data sets have not had direct and detailed measures documenting this trend.
Definitions
•Sole adult – No other adults in the household •Married parents – Two of the child’s parents live together in the same household and are married to each other •Unmarried parents – Two of the child’s parents live together in the same household but are not married to each other •Other adult present – Child’s parent lives with another adult including a cohabiting partner, relative, or non-relative who is not the child’s other parent
Among infants under age 1 who live with unmarried parents, one-third (36 percent) live with two parents. Among 12 to 17 year olds, only 4 percent of children are living with two unmarried parents. A majority of children living with unmarried parents are living only with their mothers and not their fathers (61 percent before age 1 and 80 percent among 12 to 17 year olds). The comparable percentages for children living only with their fathers are 3 percent before age 1 and 16 percent for children 12 to 17.
Own
Married parents Unmarried parents
1/Those with no cash rent are included as renters.
Rent
Parent & other adult Sole parent
A higher percentage of Hispanic children age 0 to 2 are living with two unmarried parents than other children.
Within each age group, a higher percentage of Black children are living with a sole parent than other children.
The percentage of children living with a sole parent receiving food stamps is six times the percentage of children living with married parents who receive food stamps.
100 90 80 70
Percent of children living with two unmarried parents, by age and race of child
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20
Percent of children living with a sole parent, by age and race of child
Children with married parents have parents with the highest levels of education: 46 percent of children with married parents have a parent with at least a bachelor’s degree and 73 percent have a parent with at least some college.
Estimates of number of households with two unmarried adults of the opposite sex living together (POSSLQ)/1 by the presence of children under 15: Selected Years, 1981 to 2006 4000
3500 3178 2516 2077 1558 1305 962 502 662 1442 1716 1828 3540
Percent of children receiving food stamps, by living arrangement
100
45 38 43 46
Percent distribution of children, by the highest education of parent(s) and living arrangement
Married parents/1 8 19 27 46
Estimate (in thousands)
3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 1981 1986 1991 No children <15
Percent distribution of children living with unmarried parents, by age of child
100 90
30
60 50 40 30
90 80 70
Unmarried parents/1 19 36 34 12
80 70 60
28
39 48 55
20
Mom sole adult
59
Mom only with adult Mom with cohab Dad sole adult
10 0
7
12 6 2 3 4 1
8 2
3
2
4
10
1 2 1 2
6
11 5
10
15 7
14 7
17
17 11
22
60 50 40
35 24 23
Parent & oth adult
21
39
30
10
0 0 to 2 yrs
White alone non-Hispanic
0 to 2 yrs
White alone non-Hispanic
3 to 5 yrs
6 to 11 yrs
12 to 17 yrs
Hispanic
3 to 5 yrs
6 to 11 yrs
12 to 17 yrs
Hispanic
30 20 10 0
6
50
25 3 1 5 4 36 22 8 5 9 7 14 8 9 11 4 20 16 12
Black alone non-Hispanic
Asian alone non-Hispanic
Black alone non-Hispanic
Asian alone non-Hispanic
Sole parent
18
33
33
17
1996
2001
2006
40 30 20 10 0
Dad only with adult Dad with cohab Two unmarried parents
Children <15
Food stamps
Married parents Unmarried parents Parent & other adult Sole parent
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1/Persons of opposite sex sharing living quarters, an indirect measure of cohabitation. This category was discontinued in 2007, and replaced by a direct measure of cohabitation. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 1981-2006
Less than hs grad Some college or AA degree 1/Highest level of either parent.
High school graduate Bachelor's degree or more
under 1
1 to 2 yrs
3 to 5 yrs
6 to 11 yrs
12 to 17 yrs
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplement
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Helping You Make Informed Decisions
This poster is released to inform interested parties of ongoing research and to encourage discussion. Any views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the U.S. Census Bureau.