American family life in the US is changing fast, even when it looks familiar from the outside. Fertility slipped to 1.62 births per woman in 2023, while 64.1% of households were still family households. At the same time, more people are living single or without children, and the costs, health, and relationships behind those households are starting to show sharper edges.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, U.S. fertility rate was 1.62 births per woman, below replacement level of 2.1.
- 3.59 million babies born in U.S. in 2022, down 2% from 2021.
- Childlessness by age 44: 21% of women in 2021 cohort.
- In 2023, 64.1% of U.S. households were family households, comprising 83.4 million family households out of 130.1 million total households.
- As of 2022, the average U.S. household size was 2.50 persons, down from 3.14 in 1970.
- In 2021, 18.3% of U.S. households were single-person households, totaling about 37.9 million.
- Median family income for married couples with children was $123,500 in 2022.
- 10.4% of U.S. families lived in poverty in 2022.
- Child care expenses consume 20% of family income for low-income families.
- Mental health treatment access: 50% of families sought care in 2022.
- Obesity rate in U.S. families: 42.4% of adults, 19.7% children in 2022.
- Family vaccination rate for COVID-19: 70% fully vaccinated by 2023.
- The U.S. marriage rate in 2021 was 6.1 per 1,000 population, up from 5.1 in 2020.
- Divorce rate in the U.S. fell to 2.5 per 1,000 population in 2021 from 2.7 in 2019.
- In 2022, 48% of U.S. adults were married, down from 72% in 1960.
With fewer births and more single and multigenerational households, American families face rising costs and challenges.
Related reading
01 · Category
Children And Education25 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. fertility rate was 1.62 births per woman, below replacement level of 2.1.
02
3.59 million babies born in U.S. in 2022, down 2% from 2021.
03
Childlessness by age 44: 21% of women in 2021 cohort.
04
Average age of mothers at first birth: 27.3 years in 2022.
05
40% of U.S. births in 2022 were to unmarried women.
06
Single-mother families: 15.1 million children lived with mother only in 2022.
07
Teen birth rate: 13.5 per 1,000 females aged 15-19 in 2022.
08
Adoption rate: 135,000 children adopted annually from foster care.
09
Homeschooled children: 3.7 million or 6.73% of school-age children in 2022.
10
Child care costs average $10,853per year per child under 5 in 2023.
11
23% of children under 18 live in immigrant families in 2021.
12
Kindergarten enrollment: 79% of 5-year-olds in 2021.
13
Sibling size: 41% of Americans have one sibling, 33% have two or more.
14
IVF births: 83,305 babies from 326,468 cycles in 2021.
15
Children with disabilities: 15% of U.S. children aged 3-17 in 2022.
16
Only-child families: 22% of parents with one child in 2023 surveys.
17
Head Start enrollment: 833,000 low-income children in 2022.
18
Child support received by 44% of single-mother families in 2021.
19
College enrollment among 18-24 year olds: 40% in 2023.
20
Twin birth rate: 31.7 per 1,000 births in 2022.
21
Foster care children: 391,098 in care on Sept 30, 2022.
22
Parental leave: Only 23% of workers have paid family leave in 2023.
23
High school graduation rate: 87% for public school class of 2022.
24
Children in poverty: 15.5% or 11.0 million in 2022.
25
Screen time for kids 8-12: 4.4 hours daily recreational in 2021.
Interpretation
Children And Education Interpretation
In 2022, with the U.S. fertility rate still below replacement at 1.62 births per woman and 3.59 million babies born down 2% from 2021, fewer children are being born, which signals growing pressure on children and education systems amid 40% of births to unmarried women and 15.1 million children living with a single mother.
02 · Category
Demographics And Structure30 stats
01
In 2023, 64.1% of U.S. households were family households, comprising 83.4 million family households out of 130.1 million total households.
02
As of 2022, the average U.S. household size was 2.50 persons, down from 3.14 in 1970.
03
In 2021, 18.3% of U.S. households were single-person households, totaling about 37.9 million.
04
Multigenerational living arrangements affected 18% of Americans in 2021, up from 12% in 1980.
05
In 2022, 34% of U.S. adults aged 25-34 lived in a parental home, compared to 12% in 1970.
06
Non-family households made up 35.9% of all U.S. households in 2023.
07
In 2020, 7.8 million U.S. households were headed by same-sex couples.
08
The share of U.S. households with children under 18 dropped to 36.9% in 2022 from 48.3% in 2000.
09
In 2021, 10.5% of U.S. households were grandparent-headed with no parents present.
10
Average family size in the U.S. was 3.13 persons in 2022.
11
In 2023, 15.2% of Americans lived alone, totaling 38.1 million people.
12
Households with five or more people accounted for 6.1% of all U.S. households in 2022.
13
In 2021, 59 million Americans lived in multigenerational households.
14
Unmarried partner households grew to 2.1% of all households in 2022.
15
In 2020, 25% of U.S. adults aged 18-29 lived with parents.
16
Family households with own children under 18 were 24.8% of total households in 2023.
17
In 2022, 8.4% of households were headed by someone 85 or older.
18
Shared households (three or more unrelated adults) were 17.8% of young adult households in 2021.
19
In 2023, 40.2 million households had no children under 18.
20
Households led by women maintaining families numbered 11.4 million in 2022.
21
In 2021, 28% of Black Americans lived in multigenerational households vs. 13% of whites.
22
Average household size for Hispanic families was 3.45 in 2022.
23
In 2020, 4.1% of households were cohabiting opposite-sex unmarried partners.
24
Empty-nest households (65+) with no children at home were 29 million in 2022.
25
In 2023, 22% of households included someone with a disability.
26
Nuclear family households declined to 43% of family households in 2021.
27
In 2022, 1.2 million households were same-sex married couples.
28
Households with opposite-sex unmarried partners totaled 6.9 million in 2022.
29
In 2021, 12% of Asian Americans lived in multigenerational homes.
30
Family households headed by men living alone with no wife present were 4.9 million in 2023.
Interpretation
Demographics And Structure Interpretation
In the Demographics and Structure view of American families, households are becoming smaller and less traditional, with family households at 64.1% in 2023 and the average household size dropping to 2.50 in 2022 from 3.14 in 1970 alongside rising single-person households at 18.3% in 2021.
03 · Category
Economic And Financial26 stats
01
Median family income for married couples with children was $123,500in 2022.
02
10.4% of U.S. families lived in poverty in 2022.
03
Child care expenses consume 20% of family income for low-income families.
04
42% of mothers were primary or sole earners in 2023.
05
Student debt average for parents: $35,000per family in 2022.
06
Homeownership rate for families: 65.2% in Q1 2024.
07
Alimony awarded in 10-15% of divorces, averaging $5,000/month.
08
Family net worth median: $192,700for married couples in 2022.
09
18% of families carry credit card debt over $10,000 in 2023.
10
Dual-income families: 60% of married couples with children in 2022.
11
Food insecurity affected 13.5% of families with children in 2022.
12
Average 401(k) balance for families: $226,000in 2023.
13
Housing costs exceed 30% of income for 42% of families in 2023.
14
Single-parent family median income: $45,000vs. $103,000 married in 2022.
15
Emergency savings: Only 44% of families could cover 3 months expenses.
16
College savings in 529 plans: $500 billion total assets in 2023.
17
Family business ownership: 19 million businesses, 64% family-owned.
18
Medical debt: 14 million adults in families with debt over $1,000.
19
Wealth gap: White families median wealth $285,000vs. Black $45,000 in 2022.
20
Gig economy: 36% of families have a gig worker in 2023.
21
Rent burden: 50% of renter families spend over 30% on rent.
22
Retirement savings gap: Families need $1.46 million, have $88,400 median.
23
Inflation impact: 62% of families cut spending due to inflation in 2023.
24
Life insurance coverage: 54% of families have adequate coverage.
25
Auto loan debt for families: Average $25,197in 2023.
26
28% of low-income families have no bank account.
Interpretation
Economic And Financial Interpretation
In the economic and financial picture, American families are juggling higher costs and unequal financial security, with only 65.2% owning homes in Q1 2024 and 10.4% living in poverty in 2022 while low income families spend 20% of their income on childcare and parents carry an average of $35,000 in student debt.
More related reading
05 · Category
Marriage And Relationships26 stats
01
The U.S. marriage rate in 2021 was 6.1 per 1,000 population, up from 5.1 in 2020.
02
Divorce rate in the U.S. fell to 2.5 per 1,000 population in 2021 from 2.7 in 2019.
03
In 2022, 48% of U.S. adults were married, down from 72% in 1960.
04
Cohabitation rates among adults aged 18-44 rose to 15% in 2021.
05
First marriage median age for women was 28.6 years in 2021, for men 30.6.
06
40% of U.S. marriages end in divorce within 15 years, per 2022 data.
07
Interracial marriages accounted for 19% of new marriages in 2019.
08
Remarriage rate after divorce is 64% for women and 67% for men within 10 years.
09
In 2021, 6 million U.S. adults were cohabiting, up 29% since 2007.
10
Gray divorce (50+) rate doubled from 1990 to 2021, reaching 15 per 1,000.
11
25% of married couples in 2023 had one foreign-born spouse.
12
U.S. annulments totaled about 900 per year in recent data.
13
Satisfaction in marriage: 73% of married adults reported being very satisfied in 2022.
14
Never-married adults aged 25-54: 35% of men, 30% of women in 2021.
15
Common-law marriage recognized in 8 states, affecting 1% of couples.
16
Wedding costs averaged $30,000in 2023 for U.S. couples.
17
14% of marriages in 2022 were interracial or interethnic.
18
Duration of first marriages averaged 20 years before divorce in 2021.
19
50% of children of divorce see parents remarry within 5 years.
20
LGBTQ+ marriage rate: 53% of same-sex couples married by 2022.
21
Adultery cited in 20-40% of U.S. divorces annually.
22
Median age at first divorce: 30 for women, 32 for men in 2021.
23
69% of divorces initiated by women in 2023 studies.
24
Marriage rate for college grads: 64% vs. 48% for non-grads in 2022.
25
7% of U.S. adults in polyamorous relationships in 2021 surveys.
26
Post-divorce co-parenting satisfaction: 40% report high cooperation.
Interpretation
Marriage And Relationships Interpretation
In the Marriage And Relationships landscape, the share of adults who are married has steadily declined to 48% in 2022 from 72% in 1960, even as the U.S. marriage rate rose to 6.1 per 1,000 in 2021 and cohabitation climbed to 15% among adults aged 18 to 44 in 2021.
report visual · Comparison
How American family household types differ
Family and non-family households form a major split of the U.S. household landscape.
In 2023, U.S. fertility rate was 1.62 births per woman, below replacement level of 2.1.2023
In 2023, 64.1% of U.S. households were family households, comprising 83.4 million family households out of 130.1 million
64.1%
Non-family households made up 35.9% of all U.S. households in 2023.
35.9%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). American Family Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/american-family-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "American Family Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/american-family-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "American Family Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/american-family-statistics.
Sources & references
46 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level