Over time, the number of single parent families living in the United States has grown. Between the years of 1970 and 1996, the number of children living in two parent homes decreased from 85 percent to 68 percent. In 2005, the single parent family statistics show that of these, 84 % of the custodial parents are mothers, while fathers make up the remaining 16 % of single custodial parents. Of these mothers and fathers, the reason for the situation varied quite dramatically. 44 % of single mothers had been divorced, and 33 percent had never been married. 22 % of them had remarried, and 1 % were widowed. 79 % of these mothers were employed and earning an income for the families. 50 percent of these working mothers worked full time and 29 % worked part time. Of these mother-lead families, 27.7 % lived below the poverty line.

The single parent family statistics from 2005 showed that of the of the father-lead families, 57 percent of them were divorced and 18 percent had never been married. 24 % had remarried and 1 percent were widowed. 92 % of these single fathers earned an income for his family, with 74 percent worked full time and 18 % worked part time, with only 11 percent of these families living below the poverty line.

The single parent family statistics from 2005 also showed that 31.1 % of all single parent families received some sort of public assistance, with only 6 % receiving cash assistance. 37.7 percent of custodial mothers were over the age of 40, and 56 percent of them were raising only one child, while 44 % had two or more children living in their care.

The increase in single parent families goes further than the United States. According to British statistics, the number of two parent families dropped from from 38 % of the entire population to only 23 % between the years of 1961 and 2001. 80 % of all children lived in two parent families, and 20 percent with one. Of this 20 percent, 18 % lived with single mothers, and only 2 percent were living in a single father household. In an analysis done from the British Household Panel Survey data, 40 % of all women will spend some period of time as a single parent. With the number of single parent families on the rise, it is estimated that 35% of the population will consist of single parent families.

In overview, more that one in families is headed by a single parent, with three out of four of these being single mothers. As single parent family statistics continue to rise, we can’t help but wonder what the future holds for terms such as family and sanctity…