Single parenthood has been on the rise in the United States for several decades. As of 2021, around 23% of children under the age of 18 live with one parent. This varies significantly across racial and ethnic groups. In this article, we will analyze data on single parenthood rates by race and ethnicity to determine which group has the highest rate of single parent families.
Single Parent Families by Race and Ethnicity
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2021 there were about 13.6 million single parent families with children under 18 years old. This includes any family with a single parent and at least one child, regardless of the parents’ marital status.
When looking at single parent families by race and ethnicity, clear disparities emerge:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percent of Single Parent Families |
|---|---|
| Black | 66% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 53% |
| Hispanic | 42% |
| White | 25% |
| Asian | 17% |
Black and American Indian/Alaska Native children are more likely to live in single parent homes than children of other races and ethnicities. 66% of Black children and 53% of American Indian/Alaska Native children live with one parent, compared to just 17% of Asian children.
Factors Contributing to Racial Disparities in Single Parenthood
There are many interrelated factors that help explain why single parenthood is more prevalent among certain minority groups compared to whites and Asians in the U.S.
Poverty
Poverty is closely associated with single parenthood, and minority groups have higher poverty rates. In 2021, 19.5% of Black Americans and 18.7% of Hispanics lived below the poverty line, compared to just 7.5% of whites. Poverty can encourage single parenthood by making marriage unaffordable. Unwed mothers may also choose to raise children alone rather than cohabit with an unemployed partner. Lack of economic stability contributes to higher breakup rates for cohabiting parents.
Incarceration Rates
Higher incarceration rates among Black men are another factor, as imprisoned fathers are essentially single parents. According to the NAACP, in 2001, roughly 1 in 6 Black children had a parent in prison. For Hispanic children it was 1 in 42, and for white children it was 1 in 111.
Declining Marriage Rates
Marriage rates have dropped across all racial groups over the past five decades, leading to more unmarried births. However, this decline has been steeper among Blacks. In 1970, 61% of adult Blacks were married, versus 48% in 2019. For whites, rates fell from 74% to 54% in that time.
Cultural Views on Single Motherhood
Cultural attitudes may also play a role. Single motherhood is not as stigmatized in the Black community. A larger share of Black mothers who give birth out of wedlock are living with a partner (36% vs. 24% for white unmarried mothers).
Access to Abortion
Restricted access to abortion disproportionately affects minority women, leaving more to raise children alone. In 2014, Black women had 28% of abortions compared to 39% for whites, despite making up just 13% of the female population.
Single Fathers by Race
While single motherhood is most common, racial disparities also exist among single fathers. In 2019, 8% of white children lived with a single father, versus 4% of Hispanic children and 3% of Black children. Contributing factors likely include:
- Higher incarceration rates for minority men
- Cultural norms valuing extended families – minority fathers more commonly live with relatives
- Employment disparities making white men better able to gain custody
Outcomes for Children Raised by Single Parents
Regardless of race or ethnicity, children raised in single parent homes are at a disadvantage relative to two-parent households. Controlling for income, data shows children of single parents are:
- More than twice as likely to drop out of high school
- Twice as likely to end up in jail
- One and a half times more likely to give birth outside of marriage
Minority children are already disadvantaged by higher poverty rates, worse schools, and discrimination. Growing up with one parent amplifies these hardships.
Poverty
With only one income, single parents struggle financially. Single mother households have a poverty rate around 32%. Children raised in poverty experience worse educational, health, and behavioral outcomes.
Parental Time and Attention
A single working parent has limited time to provide children with individual attention and supervision. This can lead to poor school performance, misbehavior, and emotional problems.
Stress
Single parents have higher stress levels, which can negatively impact their parenting. This transfers to children, impairing their stress response and ability to focus.
Supporting Single Parent Families
Despite challenges, many single parents raise happy, healthy, successful children. But expanded support systems could ease their burden. Some helpful policies and programs include:
- Increased educational funding for low-income school districts
- Affordable high-quality childcare
- Job training programs for single parents
- Financial assistance through welfare, food stamps, housing vouchers
- Tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit
- Government funded counseling and mental health services
- Outreach programs to involve fathers and extended family
- Mentorship and after-school activities for at-risk youth
- Prison reform and rehabilitation to unite families
Conclusion
Among major racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., Black children are most likely to be raised by a single parent, with 66% in single parent families. American Indian/Alaska Native children also have very high rates at 53%. This compares to just 17% for Asian children. Key factors driving higher single parenthood in minority communities include higher poverty rates, mass incarceration, declining marriage rates, and cultural acceptance.
Single parent households face disadvantages including increased financial hardship, lack of parental time and attention, and high stress. Children raised by one parent are at higher risk for issues like poor academic performance, emotional/behavioral problems, and future poverty and incarceration. Supporting single parents with social programs and economic resources can help mitigate these risks and provide children with the tools to overcome adversity.