Poverty status of children by family structure, 2011

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

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Living Arrangements

Q:	Does the proportion of children living in poverty vary by family structure?
A:	Children in single-parent families are more likely to live in poverty.

Children living with	Children under 18*	Percent below the poverty level	Percent of all children receiving
Children living with	Children under 18*	Percent below the poverty level	Food stamps	Public assistance
All Types	74630	22%	17%	4%
Two parents	51456	14	10	2
Married	48516	12	9	2
Unmarried	2940	50	29	8
Single parent	20264	41	35	10
Mother only	17636	44	38	11
Father only	2628	21	16	3
Neither parent**	2910	44	23	10

* data are in thousands.
** Includes children living with other relatives and those living with non-relatives.
***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, about 1 in 7 (14%) of children living with both parents lived below the poverty level compared to 4 in 10 (41%) of children living with only one parent.
Children living with only their mothers in 2011 were twice as likely to live in poverty than those living with only their fathers (44% vs. 21%).
Overall, about 4% of children in 2011 lived in households receiving public assistance and 17% lived in households receiving food stamps, but the proportions were far greater for children living in single-mother families.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/population/qa01203.asp?qaDate=2011. Released on December 17, 2012.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2011. Table C-8: "Poverty Status, Food Stamp Receipt, and Public Assistance for Children Under 18 Years." [Internet release date: November 2011]. Web-based data files available at: http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2011.html.