GITNUXREPORT 2025

Child Support Statistics

Child support helps 13 million children; enforcement and arrears remain challenging.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

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In the United States, approximately 13 million children receive child support payments

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About 60% of custodial parents receive some child support

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In 2021, the percentage of custodial parents with an order for child support was 73%

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The proportion of children living in single-parent households increased from 1970 to 2020 from 16% to 23%

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The median age of noncustodial parents paying child support is 40 years old

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In the U.S., females are more likely to receive child support than males, with 78% of custodial mothers receiving support compared to 62% of custodial fathers

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25% of custodial parents report that child support payments are their primary source of income

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The rate of child support compliance is higher among noncustodial parents with higher education levels

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The average age of noncustodial parents making child support payments is 45 years

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Child support orders are more likely to be established in urban areas than rural areas

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Approximately 40% of child support obligations are collected via formal court orders

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About 45% of custodial parents experience difficulties in collecting overdue child support payments

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States with higher child support repayment rates tend to have more rigorous enforcement mechanisms

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The average duration for a child support case to be resolved is approximately 6-8 months

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Child support arrears account for about 15% of all family court cases in the U.S.

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The percentage of custodial parents receiving full child support payments (covering the entire amount owed) is approximately 46%

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Approximately 25% of noncustodial parents are behind on their child support payments by more than 3 months

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About 50% of custodial parents with child support orders are satisfied with the enforcement process

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Child support enforcement costs the U.S. government approximately $2 billion annually

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12% of custodial parents have debts owed to child support agencies, totaling over $1 billion

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The percentage of noncustodial parents paying child support via income withholding increased from 55% in 2010 to 75% in 2022

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The average duration of unpaid child support arrears is approximately 2 years before enforcement action is taken

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The percentage of noncustodial parents who default on child support payments is around 20%

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Only about 15% of custodial parents report that they are very satisfied with the child support enforcement process

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The national arrears on child support obligations reached over $132 billion in 2022

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The average monthly child support payment in the U.S. is around $430 per child

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Noncustodial parents pay approximately $34 billion in child support annually in the U.S.

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Nearly 70% of custodial parents with a child support order receive payments

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The average income of custodial parents receiving child support is $19,000 annually

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Approximately 10% of custodial parents do not receive any child support payments at all

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The percentage of children with legally mandated child support has increased by 10% over the last decade

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About 55% of child support collections come from wages and income withholding

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The median child support debt owed by noncustodial parents in arrears is approximately $7,500

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35% of custodial parents rely on child support payments as a significant part of their household income

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In 2020, 85% of child support payments were made voluntarily, without formal enforcement

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23% of custodial parents report that child support payments are delayed by more than a month at least once a year

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The percentage of fathers who pay child support voluntarily without enforcement is about 70%

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The median amount paid in child support per month in 2022 is roughly $430

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80% of child support collections are used for basic living expenses like housing, food, and healthcare

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Noncustodial fathers with higher income levels are more likely to pay full child support obligations

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The proportion of custodial parents receiving full child support has increased by 5% over the past five years

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Child support payments tend to be lower in states with a higher cost of living, averaging about $375 per month

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65% of custodial parents report that child support payments significantly improve their child's well-being

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The employment rate among custodial parents receiving child support is roughly 75%

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15% of noncustodial parents are unemployed at the time of child support obligation

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States with higher unemployment rates tend to have lower child support collections

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Key Highlights

  • In the United States, approximately 13 million children receive child support payments
  • The national arrears on child support obligations reached over $132 billion in 2022
  • About 60% of custodial parents receive some child support
  • The average monthly child support payment in the U.S. is around $430 per child
  • Noncustodial parents pay approximately $34 billion in child support annually in the U.S.
  • In 2021, the percentage of custodial parents with an order for child support was 73%
  • Nearly 70% of custodial parents with a child support order receive payments
  • The proportion of children living in single-parent households increased from 1970 to 2020 from 16% to 23%
  • The average income of custodial parents receiving child support is $19,000 annually
  • Approximately 40% of child support obligations are collected via formal court orders
  • About 45% of custodial parents experience difficulties in collecting overdue child support payments
  • The median age of noncustodial parents paying child support is 40 years old
  • In the U.S., females are more likely to receive child support than males, with 78% of custodial mothers receiving support compared to 62% of custodial fathers

Did you know that over 13 million children in the U.S. rely on child support payments, yet more than $132 billion remains owed in arrears, highlighting both the importance and challenges of enforcing financial support for America’s most vulnerable families?

Child Support Demographics and Custodial Arrangements

  • In the United States, approximately 13 million children receive child support payments
  • About 60% of custodial parents receive some child support
  • In 2021, the percentage of custodial parents with an order for child support was 73%
  • The proportion of children living in single-parent households increased from 1970 to 2020 from 16% to 23%
  • The median age of noncustodial parents paying child support is 40 years old
  • In the U.S., females are more likely to receive child support than males, with 78% of custodial mothers receiving support compared to 62% of custodial fathers
  • 25% of custodial parents report that child support payments are their primary source of income
  • The rate of child support compliance is higher among noncustodial parents with higher education levels
  • The average age of noncustodial parents making child support payments is 45 years
  • Child support orders are more likely to be established in urban areas than rural areas

Child Support Demographics and Custodial Arrangements Interpretation

The United States’ child support system reveals a landscape where nearly a quarter of children reside in single-parent households, more custodial mothers than fathers receive support, and while almost three-quarters have formal orders, nearly a quarter still rely primarily on child support for income—highlighting the ongoing economic and social complexities in balancing parenthood across the nation’s diverse urban and rural communities.

Enforcement, Compliance, and Debt Collection

  • Approximately 40% of child support obligations are collected via formal court orders
  • About 45% of custodial parents experience difficulties in collecting overdue child support payments
  • States with higher child support repayment rates tend to have more rigorous enforcement mechanisms
  • The average duration for a child support case to be resolved is approximately 6-8 months
  • Child support arrears account for about 15% of all family court cases in the U.S.
  • The percentage of custodial parents receiving full child support payments (covering the entire amount owed) is approximately 46%
  • Approximately 25% of noncustodial parents are behind on their child support payments by more than 3 months
  • About 50% of custodial parents with child support orders are satisfied with the enforcement process
  • Child support enforcement costs the U.S. government approximately $2 billion annually
  • 12% of custodial parents have debts owed to child support agencies, totaling over $1 billion
  • The percentage of noncustodial parents paying child support via income withholding increased from 55% in 2010 to 75% in 2022
  • The average duration of unpaid child support arrears is approximately 2 years before enforcement action is taken
  • The percentage of noncustodial parents who default on child support payments is around 20%
  • Only about 15% of custodial parents report that they are very satisfied with the child support enforcement process

Enforcement, Compliance, and Debt Collection Interpretation

While nearly half of custodial parents are pleased with enforcement efforts, the persistent gaps—such as 40% of support collected via courts, 25% behind on payments, and a $2 billion annual enforcement cost—highlight that in the child support system, ensuring fairness remains an ongoing challenge of balancing oversight with efficacy.

Financial Aspects of Child Support Payments and Obligations

  • The national arrears on child support obligations reached over $132 billion in 2022
  • The average monthly child support payment in the U.S. is around $430 per child
  • Noncustodial parents pay approximately $34 billion in child support annually in the U.S.
  • Nearly 70% of custodial parents with a child support order receive payments
  • The average income of custodial parents receiving child support is $19,000 annually
  • Approximately 10% of custodial parents do not receive any child support payments at all
  • The percentage of children with legally mandated child support has increased by 10% over the last decade
  • About 55% of child support collections come from wages and income withholding
  • The median child support debt owed by noncustodial parents in arrears is approximately $7,500
  • 35% of custodial parents rely on child support payments as a significant part of their household income
  • In 2020, 85% of child support payments were made voluntarily, without formal enforcement
  • 23% of custodial parents report that child support payments are delayed by more than a month at least once a year
  • The percentage of fathers who pay child support voluntarily without enforcement is about 70%
  • The median amount paid in child support per month in 2022 is roughly $430
  • 80% of child support collections are used for basic living expenses like housing, food, and healthcare
  • Noncustodial fathers with higher income levels are more likely to pay full child support obligations
  • The proportion of custodial parents receiving full child support has increased by 5% over the past five years
  • Child support payments tend to be lower in states with a higher cost of living, averaging about $375 per month

Financial Aspects of Child Support Payments and Obligations Interpretation

Despite $132 billion in arrears and an average monthly support of around $430, nearly 45% of custodial parents remain without any child support, highlighting a persistent gap between owed and received funds that underscores the ongoing challenge of ensuring adequate financial support for children nationwide.

Impact on Custodial Parents and Children Outcomes

  • 65% of custodial parents report that child support payments significantly improve their child's well-being

Impact on Custodial Parents and Children Outcomes Interpretation

With 65% of custodial parents affirming that child support payments markedly enhance their child's well-being, it’s clear that financial support isn't just a duty—it's a vital investment in the next generation’s future.

Noncustodial Parent Employment and Payment Patterns

  • The employment rate among custodial parents receiving child support is roughly 75%
  • 15% of noncustodial parents are unemployed at the time of child support obligation
  • States with higher unemployment rates tend to have lower child support collections

Noncustodial Parent Employment and Payment Patterns Interpretation

While a solid 75% of custodial parents work to support their children, the 15% unemployment rate among noncustodial parents and the ripple effect of broader economic downturns underscore that when the job market falters, so does the flow of child support, highlighting how economic health directly impacts family stability.