Just How Many Single Parents Are There?

by Renee Dietz | More from this Blogger

13 Feb 2007 12:38 AM

We all know the number of divorces has been on the rise for many years but have you ever wondered just how many single parents there are? I thought it would be interesting to do some digging to gain a better understanding of the number of people sharing our same challenges and rewards. If for no other reason, to know that in good and bad times - we are NOT alone.

In 2002, the United Stated Census determined that three out of every ten children being raised in America are living in single parent homes. Unfortunately, the number of single parent homes is growing. In addition to divorce, you have to remember that many people are choosing to have children without a partner. Therefore, with our society being much more accepting of the non-traditional home, the numbers are staggering.

Other interesting information is that during the mid-1990s, the number of single mom and dad homes actually leveled off. However, today the information is much different. Other fascinating tidbits about single parent homes include:

-Divorces in 1997 - 1,163,000 -State with the lowest divorce rate - Massachusetts -State with the highest divorce rate - Nevada -Percentage of divorced population - 10% -Percentage of widowed homes - 7% -Likelihood of people divorcing in 1997 - 43% -People widowed in 2000 - 2,604,000 males and 11,06,000 women -People divorced by 2000 - 8.5 million males, 11 million females -People separated in 2000 - 1.8 million males, 2.6 million females -Number of children in new divorces annually since 1997 - 1 million -Percentage of homes with single moms - 9.2% -Percentage of homes with single dads - 1.9% -Children under the age of 18 living in a single parent home - 20 million

As you can see, the numbers associated with single parenting are quite intriguing and changing all the time.

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I have been a successful, published writer for the past 26 years, offering a writing style that is informative, creative, and reader-friendly.

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Kori Rodley Irons (8277) 28 Feb 2007 01:55 PM

I am of the belief that any one who decides to become a parent should be prepared for the chance that they will be a single parent. With the odds and the numbers the way they are, it is becoming increasingly common--so parents should be prepared.

Renee Dietz (964) 28 Feb 2007 04:20 PM

Hi Kori...you are 100% right. Sadly, people don't look at the big picture and the children pay.