Single Mom Statistics

"U.S. Census Bureau in November, 2009, there are approximately 13.7 million single parents in the United States today, and those parents are responsible for raising 21.8 million children (approximately 26% of children under 21 in the U.S. today)." - about.com



So what's the "average" single parent really like? According to the U.S. Census Bureau...

She is a Mother:

• Approximately 84% of custodial parents are mothers
• 20.9% have never married
• 79.5% of custodial single mothers are gainfully employed
• 27% of custodial single mothers and their children live in poverty

• 22% receive Medicaid
• 23.5% receive food stamps

Who is a Single Mother by Choice?

• A single woman who is starting out as or who will be her child’s sole parent.
• Typically a career woman in her 30’s or 40’s who wants to have a child before it’s too late.
• Some of us go to doctors for donor insemination or adopt in the US or abroad, and others accidentally became pregnant — and discovered we were thrilled.
• Single motherhood is ideally for the woman who feels she has much to give a child and who has the emotional and financial resources to support herself and her child.
• We believe that single motherhood is a viable option but we are not an advocacy group.
• We feel the choice to become a parent is a most individual one and is not right for everyone.