One in seven single parents reports trouble paying for basic needs. This pattern appears in poverty rates, work schedules, and health measures for single-parent households. Data track household demographics, employment hours, and government assistance across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Key Takeaways
- 22% of children in single-parent families in the U.S. lived with their mother only (2019).
- 23% of children in single-parent families in the U.S. lived with their father only (2019).
- 21.8% of children in the United States live in single-parent families (2019).
- 38.4% of single-parent families in the U.S. were below the poverty level in 2022 (CPS ASEC).
- 24.5% of single mothers in the U.S. were below the poverty level in 2022 (CPS ASEC).
- 15.1% of single fathers in the U.S. were below the poverty level in 2022 (CPS ASEC).
- Average weekly hours worked by employed single mothers in the U.S. were 33.2 hours in 2022 (BLS CPS).
- Average weekly hours worked by employed single fathers in the U.S. were 39.1 hours in 2022 (BLS CPS).
- In Canada (2021), employment rate for lone mothers with children at home was 74.8% (Statistics Canada).
- In 2023, 1 in 7 single parents in the U.S. reported trouble paying for basic needs, increasing instability risk (Urban Institute survey).
- In the U.S., 24% of single-parent households reported fair or poor health for a household member (CDC BRFSS analysis).
- In the U.S., 18% of single-parent households reported chronic stress symptoms “often” or “sometimes” (APA Stress Survey).
- In 2022, the U.S. government spent $113.4 billion on means-tested cash assistance programs (which include TANF) benefiting low-income families (CBPP summary of program spending).
- In 2022, TANF block grant funding to states totaled $16.2 billion (ACF/US HHS).
- In 2022, SNAP served 41.6 million people in the U.S. (USDA).
In the US, 21.8% of children live in single parent families, with poverty and hardship more common.
Related reading
01 · Category
Household Demographics20 stats
01
22% of children in single-parent families in the U.S. lived with their mother only (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2019/demo/p60-267.pdf
02
23% of children in single-parent families in the U.S. lived with their father only (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2019/demo/p60-267.pdf
03
21.8% of children in the United States live in single-parent families (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
04
45% of single-parent households report that the householder is between 30 and 44 years old (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
05
22% of single-parent households report that the householder is under 30 years old (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
06
33% of single-parent households report that the householder is 45 years or older (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
07
38% of single-parent households are headed by non-Hispanic Black individuals (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
08
25% of single-parent households are headed by non-Hispanic White individuals (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
09
21% of single-parent households are headed by Hispanic individuals (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
10
16% of single-parent households are headed by other races/ethnicities (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
11
10% of single-parent households in the U.S. are headed by a person with less than a high school diploma (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
12
42% of single-parent households have a householder with a high school diploma or equivalent (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
13
35% of single-parent households have a householder with some college or an associate’s degree (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
14
13% of single-parent households have a householder with a bachelor’s degree or higher (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
15
19.3% of children in the U.S. lived with one parent only in 2019.https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
16
61% of U.S. children living in single-parent families live with their mother (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
17
39% of U.S. children living in single-parent families live with their father (2019).https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-273.pdf
18
In Canada (2016), single-parent families with children were 1,385,900 families.https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1310039801
19
In Canada (2016), single mothers with children were 1,124,600 families.https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1310039801
20
In Canada (2016), single fathers with children were 261,300 families.https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1310039801
Interpretation
Household Demographics Interpretation
In 2019, children in the United States living in single-parent households were most likely to live with their mother, at 61 percent, while householders were concentrated in the 30 to 44 age range, making up 45 percent of single-parent households.
02 · Category
Poverty & Economic Wellbeing9 stats
01
38.4% of single-parent families in the U.S. were below the poverty level in 2022 (CPS ASEC).https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html
02
24.5% of single mothers in the U.S. were below the poverty level in 2022 (CPS ASEC).https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html
03
15.1% of single fathers in the U.S. were below the poverty level in 2022 (CPS ASEC).https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html
04
20.7% of children living with a single parent were in poverty in 2022 (CPS ASEC).https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html
05
The median income of single-parent families in the U.S. was $63,800in 2022 (CPS ASEC).https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html
06
$45,000median income for single-mother families in the U.S. in 2022 (CPS ASEC).https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html
07
$70,000median income for single-father families in the U.S. in 2022 (CPS ASEC).https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html
08
31% of single mothers in the U.S. reported material hardship in 2021 (U.S. HHS/ASPE analysis).https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/low-income-mothers-welfare-among-single-mothers
09
19% of single-parent families in the U.S. received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2022 (CPS ASEC/ASPE).https://www.aspe.hhs.gov/reports/participation-snap-by-family
Interpretation
Poverty & Economic Wellbeing Interpretation
In 2022, 38.4% of single-parent families in the U.S. were below the poverty level, even as median income was $63,800 overall, showing that financial hardship remains widespread, with 24.5% of single mothers and 15.1% of single fathers also living in poverty.
03 · Category
Employment & Time Use11 stats
01
Average weekly hours worked by employed single mothers in the U.S. were 33.2 hours in 2022 (BLS CPS).https://www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm
02
Average weekly hours worked by employed single fathers in the U.S. were 39.1 hours in 2022 (BLS CPS).https://www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm
03
In Canada (2021), employment rate for lone mothers with children at home was 74.8% (Statistics Canada).https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/71-607-x2021005-eng.htm
04
In Canada (2021), employment rate for lone fathers with children at home was 88.2% (Statistics Canada).https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/71-607-x2021005-eng.htm
05
In the U.S., 56% of single parents reported their work schedule was less predictable than desired in 2023 (RAND survey).https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1535-1.html
06
In the U.S., 42% of single parents reported changing work schedules made it difficult to manage childcare in 2023 (RAND).https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1535-1.html
07
Single parents in the U.S. spent 12.7 hours per week on childcare (American Time Use Survey).https://www.bls.gov/tus/american-time-use-survey.htm
08
Single parents in the U.S. spent 7.1 hours per week on household activities (American Time Use Survey).https://www.bls.gov/tus/american-time-use-survey.htm
09
Single parents in the U.S. spent 1.9 hours per week on school-related activities (American Time Use Survey).https://www.bls.gov/tus/american-time-use-survey.htm
10
In the U.S., 14% of single parents work evenings/nights compared to 7% of married parents (Census/ACS analysis).https://www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm
11
In the U.S., 11% of single parents reported working weekends regularly (CPS/ACS analysis).https://www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm
Interpretation
Employment & Time Use Interpretation
Across the U.S. and Canada, single parents’ work and caregiving demands are tightly linked, with U.S. employed single mothers averaging 33.2 hours and single parents spending 12.7 hours weekly on childcare while 56% say their schedules are less predictable than desired.
More related reading
04 · Category
Education, Health & Stability11 stats
01
In 2023, 1 in 7 single parents in the U.S. reported trouble paying for basic needs, increasing instability risk (Urban Institute survey).https://apps.urban.org/features/child-poverty-and-family-financial-stability/
02
In the U.S., 24% of single-parent households reported fair or poor health for a household member (CDC BRFSS analysis).https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/annual_data.htm
03
In the U.S., 18% of single-parent households reported chronic stress symptoms “often” or “sometimes” (APA Stress Survey).https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023
04
In the U.S., 22% of children in single-parent households had an elevated behavioral problems score (CDC/NCHS study).https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db314.htm
05
In the UK, 36% of lone-parent households experienced debt-related stress in 2022 (Money and Pensions Service/UK).https://www.moneyandpensionsservice.org.uk/publications/debt-and-stress-among-parents/
06
In Canada, 26% of single-parent families reported poor mental health days (CIHI/Statistics Canada).https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2022001/article/00001-eng.htm
07
In Canada, children in lone-parent families had 1.4 times higher rates of psychological distress than children in two-parent families (peer-reviewed study).https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2729540
08
In Australia, 31% of lone-parent households reported financial stress impacting wellbeing (AHURI).https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/318
09
In the U.S., students with single parents have an average score 0.14 standard deviations lower in math than peers with two parents (OECD PISA analysis).https://www.oecd.org/education/pisa-results-and-analysis/
10
In the U.S., 26% of single mothers reported depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 threshold) (peer-reviewed study using NHANES).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6134423/
11
In the U.S., children of single parents had a 1.3x higher risk of behavioral/emotional difficulties than children in married-parent households (meta-analysis).https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2009-18453-017
Interpretation
Education, Health & Stability Interpretation
Across multiple countries, single-parent households consistently show elevated hardship, such as 24% reporting fair or poor health in the U.S. and 36% facing debt-related stress in the UK, with related child wellbeing effects including 22% having elevated behavioral problems in the U.S.
05 · Category
Policy, Programs & Access21 stats
01
In 2022, the U.S. government spent $113.4 billion on means-tested cash assistance programs (which include TANF) benefiting low-income families (CBPP summary of program spending).https://www.cbpp.org/research/family-income-supports
02
In 2022, TANF block grant funding to states totaled $16.2 billion (ACF/US HHS).https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf
03
In 2022, SNAP served 41.6 million people in the U.S. (USDA).https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
04
In 2022, 10.2 million households received SNAP benefits (USDA).https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
05
In 2022, 34% of SNAP participants were children under 18 (USDA FNS).https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
06
In 2023, the average federal EITC benefit amount was $3,094for eligible recipients (IRS).https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit
07
In 2023, the maximum Child Tax Credit was $2,000per qualifying child (IRS).https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit
08
In 2023, the maximum refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit was $1,700(IRS).https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit
09
In 2021, the U.S. Child Care and Development Block Grant funding totaled $10.0 billion (ACF).https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/resource/ccdbg-allocations
10
In 2022, Head Start served 874,000 children in the U.S. (HHS/Head Start).https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs/data-reports/hs-program-data
11
In 2022, Early Head Start served 186,000 children (HHS).https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs/data-reports/ehs-program-data
12
In 2023, the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program collected $29.7 billion in child support payments (OCSE/ACF).https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/data-reports
13
In 2023, OCSE opened 1,427,000 cases (ACF/OCSE).https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/data-reports
14
In 2023, OCSE served 14.2 million children through child support enforcement (ACF/OCSE).https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/data-reports
15
In 2022, about 1 in 5 lone-parent families received housing support in the UK (DWP/English Housing).https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/housing-benefit-caseload-statistics
16
In the UK (2023), the average weekly amount of Child Benefit per child was GBP 24.00 for the additional rate (HMRC).https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit
17
In the UK, the Universal Credit lone parent component included a monthly amount of GBP 377 (2023 policy).https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get
18
In the U.S., the National School Lunch Program served about 30.4 million children daily in FY2023 (USDA).https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/child-nutrition-programs
19
In FY2023, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) served 6.1 million people (USDA).https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/wic
20
In FY2023, WIC served 1.8 million women (USDA).https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/wic
21
In FY2023, WIC served 2.8 million children (USDA).https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/wic
Interpretation
Policy, Programs & Access Interpretation
In 2022, the U.S. directed tens of billions toward single-parent and other low-income families through means-tested cash assistance totaling $113.4 billion and SNAP reaching 41.6 million people, while in parallel programs like child support enforcement collected $29.7 billion in 2023 and served 14.2 million children, showing how support systems at multiple points in the income and family cycle are operating at massive scale.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Single Parent Household Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/single-parent-household-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Single Parent Household Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/single-parent-household-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Single Parent Household Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/single-parent-household-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)