Single Mother Statistics

Single motherhood has grown so common in America that today 80 percent of single-parent families are headed by single mothers — nearly a third live in poverty.

Updated on 02 Feb 2023

Once largely limited to poor women and minorities, single motherhood is now becoming the new “norm”. This prevalence is due in part to the growing trend of children born outside marriage — a societal trend that was virtually unheard of decades ago.

10,889,000	79.5%
SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES	HEADED BY SINGLE MOTHERS