Living arrangements of children by race/ethnicity, 1970-2011

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Working for Youth Justice and Safety

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Living Arrangements

Q:	How do the living arrangements of children vary by race?
A:	More than half (55%) of all black children lived with only one parent in 2011 compared with less than one-quarter (22%) of white children.

	Two parents			Single parent, Mother only			Single parent, Father only
	White	Black	Hispanic*	White	Black	Hispanic*	White	Black	Hispanic*
1970	90%	58%	N/A	8%	30%	N/A	1%	2%	N/A
1971	88	54	N/A	9	33	N/A	1	2	N/A
1972	88	54	N/A	9	33	N/A	1	2	N/A
1973	87	51	N/A	10	38	N/A	1	2	N/A
1974	87	51	N/A	10	38	N/A	1	2	N/A
1975	85	49	N/A	11	41	N/A	1	2	N/A
1976	85	50	N/A	12	40	N/A	1	2	N/A
1977	85	47	N/A	12	42	N/A	1	1	N/A
1978	84	44	N/A	13	42	N/A	1	2	N/A
1979	83	43	N/A	12	42	N/A	1	2	N/A
1980	83	42	75	14	44	20	2	2	2
1981	82	43	70	14	43	23	2	3	2
1982	81	42	69	15	47	25	2	2	2
1983	81	41	68	15	51	27	2	2	2
1984	81	41	70	15	50	25	2	3	2
1985	80	39	68	16	51	27	2	3	2
1986	80	41	66	16	51	28	3	2	3
1987	79	40	66	16	50	28	3	3	3
1988	79	39	66	16	51	27	3	3	3
1989	80	38	67	16	51	28	3	3	3
1990	79	38	67	16	51	27	3	4	3
1991	78	36	66	17	54	27	3	4	3
1992	77	36	65	18	54	28	3	3	4
1993	77	36	65	17	54	28	3	3	4
1994	76	33	63	18	53	28	3	4	4
1995	76	33	63	18	52	28	3	4	4
1996	75	33	62	18	53	29	4	4	4
1997	75	35	64	18	52	27	4	5	4
1998	74	36	64	18	51	27	5	4	4
1999	74	35	63	18	52	27	4	4	5
2000	75	38	65	17	49	25	4	4	4
2001	75	38	65	18	48	25	4	5	5
2002	75	38	65	18	48	25	5	5	5
2003	75	36	65	18	51	25	5	5	6
2004	74	35	65	18	50	25	4	6	5
2005	74	35	65	18	50	25	5	5	5
2006	74	35	66	18	51	25	5	5	4

2007	77	39	70	17	50	24	3	4	2
2008	76	38	70	17	51	24	4	3	2
2009	76	38	69	18	50	25	3	3	3
2010	75	39	67	18	50	26	3	4	3
2011	75	38	67	19	51	26	4	3	3

Note: * Persons of Hispanic ethnicity can be of any race; however, most are white. Race proportions include persons of Hispanic ethnicity.
**The Current Population Survey methodology changed to more accurately reflect children’s coresidence with their parents. This change is reflected in the estimates beginning in 2007, where two parent homes include all homes in which a child lives with both parents, married or unmarried (biological, step or adoptive). For more information please read: Improvements to data collection about families in CPS 2007.

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In 2011, more than one-third (38%) of black children lived with both parents. The majority of white children and children of Hispanic ethnicity lived in two-parent homes (75% and 67%, respectively).
The proportion of children living in two-parent families declined between 1980 and 2011 for white children (83% to 75%), black children (42% to 38%), and children of Hispanic ethnicity (75% to 67%).
Between 1970 and 2011, the proportion of children living with their mothers in single-parent households increased from 8% to 19% for whites and from 30% to 51% for blacks. For children of Hispanic ethnicity, this proportion increased from 20% in 1980 to 26% in 2011.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/population/qa01202.asp?qaDate=2011. Released on December 17, 2012.

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. Current Population Survey - Families and Living Arrangements, Historical Tables. Table CH-2: "Living Arrangements of White Children Under 18 Years Old: 1960 to Present;" Table CH-3: "Living Arrangements of Black Children Under 18 Years Old: 1960 to Present;" Table CH-4: "Living Arrangements of Hispanic Children Under 18 Years Old: 1970 to Present." [Internet release date: September 2012]. Web-based data files available at: www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/children.html.