The percentage of children under the age of 18 who live with two parents decreased steadily for several decades (from approximately 85% in 1970 to approximately 68% by the mid-1990s1). Beginning in the mid-1990s, this decrease leveled off and the proportion of U.S. children who live with two married parents has since remained at approximately […]
For many years, immigrants have come to the United States for economic opportunities, religious and political freedom, and to make better lives for themselves and their families. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division reported that the United States has the largest number of international migrants of any country in the […]
Table of Contents Introduction Definitions and Acronyms Emergence of Public Interest in Marriage and Divorce Statistics and Family Trends Government and Academic Reports Historical Trends in Family Formation Recent Statistics and Trends in Family Formation Data on Family Formation According to Race/Ethnicity Collection and Quality of Divorce and Marriage Statistics at National, State and Local […]
It is estimated that about 90 percent of American adults will eventually marry (Cherlin 2009). This is a decline from several decades ago, and may be declining further as cohabitation becomes more common. Furthermore, Americans have been getting older when they walk down the aisle and having children out-of-wedlock has become more common. Some of […]
This Collection focuses on three policy areas in which there has been extensive examination of their effects on family formation: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare) programs; federal tax policies; and child support enforcement/responsible fatherhood programs. For purposes of this Collection, child support enforcement and responsible fatherhood programs are combined. This is not intended to […]
This fact sheet notes the diversity of the Asian American population and explores trends in marriage and intermarriage rates in the Asian community. Statistics are reported that indicate: all Asian ethnic groups living in the U.S. have a greater than 60% marriage rate; compared to other racial groups, the Asian marriage rate is most similar […]
This brief shares research findings on juvenile delinquency, explores the association between juvenile delinquency and family structure, and discusses implications for marriage education programs. Statistics are reported from a 20-year longitudinal study that indicate boys who grew up without their biological father in the home were three times more likely to commit a crime that […]
This brief reviews trends in family structure in the United States and implications for children, adults, and society. Data is shared on rates of divorce, nonmarital births, and nonmarital cohabitation. Statistics are cited that indicate the probability of marriages ending in divorce increased more or less continuously until 1990 and then stabilized; between 43% and […]
Race, as well as culture, ethnicity, and religion, are important factors leading to an increase in diversity seen in today’s marriages. As such, it is difficult to isolate the impact of racial differences within a marriage. This Fact Sheet highlights trends and rates of interracial marriages in American society, and discusses possible explanations of these […]
Couples having a baby are an audience who benefit greatly from marriage/relationship education (MRE). Having a baby is an especially important opportunity for unmarried couples to assess their relationships. To keep unmarried couples involved in your MRE program, it is beneficial to respect that they are facing many difficult choices and that you are there […]