Statistics

Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support 2005, which focuses on the income of custodial parents, was released to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2007. The following statistics are retrieved from this document.

There are approximately 13.6 million single parents in the United States. That means that 21.2 million children (about 26% of children under 21) are raised by one parent. Approximately 84% of the custodial parents are the mothers, making just 16% custodial fathers. Out of the custodial mothers, 56% are raising one child, while 44% have two or more children.

Marital Status of Custodial Mothers:
In this vast majority of custodial mothers, 44% are currently divorced or separated, 33% have never been married, 22% are married (mostly remarried), and 1% are widowed.
Marital Status of Custodial Fathers:
57% of fathers are divorced or separated, 24% are currently married (mostly remarried), 18% are never married and 1% are widowed.

Employment of Custodial Mothers:
70% of single mothers are profitably employed, 50% work full time, year round, and 28% work part-time or only part of the year.
27.7% of mothers and their children live in poverty.

Employment of Custodial Fathers:
92% of custodial fathers are profitably employed, 74% work full time, year round, and 18% work part-time or only part of the year.
11.1% of custodial fathers live in poverty.

31% of all single parents receive public assistance, but only 6% of single parents receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

(Wolf, Jennifer. "Single Parent Statistics." 1 May 2008 .)