The number of children under 18 living only with their mother has increased from 8 percent to 23 percent since 1960, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau Thursday.
In that same 56 year time span, the number of children living in two-parent households has decreased from 88 percent to 69 percent. Of the children in two-parent families, 47.7 million live with two married parents and 3 million live with two unmarried parents.
The children who are living in single-parent households are overwhelmingly in the care of their mother. Single mothers take care of 17.2 million of America’s children, while single fathers are raising 3 million of them. Nearly 3 million children are living with no parents present whatsoever.
In 1950, married couples made up 93 percent of all families with children. Today, 68 percent of all families with children under 18 include married parents. Mothers and fathers are now working outside the home at about an equal percentage. Sixty-six percent of dads work outside the home, as do 62 percent of mothers.
The Census Bureau also released statistics on the size and demographic composition of households. White households made up 89 percent of all households in 1970. Today, they represent 79 percent of households.
Americans have become less likely to marry and more likely to live alone. Thirty-percent of adults in 2016 have never been married–in 1950 that number was 23 percent. In 1960, just 13 percent of households only had person living in them. Now, 28 percent of households are home to just one individual.