This graph shows the Percentage of households led by a female householder with no spouse present with own children under 18 years living in the household in the U.S. in 2021, by state. In 2021, about 4.24 percent of Californian households were single mother households with at least one child.

Additional information on single mother households and poverty in the United States

For most single mothers a constant battle persists between finding the time and energy to raise their children and the demands of working to supply an income to house and feed their families. The pressures of a single income and the high costs of childcare mean that the risk of poverty for these families is a tragic reality. Comparison of the overall United States poverty rate since 1990 with that of the poverty rate for families with a female householder shows that poverty is much more prevalent in the latter. In 2021, while the overall rate was at 11.6 percent, the rate of poverty for single mother families was 23 percent. Moreover, the degree of fluctuation tends to be lower for single female household families, suggesting the rate of poverty for these groups is less affected by economic conditions.

The sharp rise in the number of children living with a single mother or single father in the United States from 1970 to 2022 suggests more must be done to ensure that families in such situations are able to avoid poverty. Moreover, attention should also be placed on overall racial income inequality given the higher rate of poverty for Hispanic single mother families than their white or Asian counterparts.

In 2022, the median annual family income of lone-parent families in Canada increased by 2,100 dollars (+3.7 percent) since 2021. Therefore, the median annual income in Canada reached a peak in 2022 with 58,850 dollars.

In 2023, around *** million families with a female householder lived below the poverty level in the U.S. Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing, and shelter.

Families of tax filers; Single-earner and dual-earner census families by number of children (final T1 Family File; T1FF).

Austria Household Income: Disposable: Avg: Per Capita: Without Pension: Families: With Children: Single Parents data was reported at 22,402.000 EUR in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 24,636.000 EUR for 2023. Austria Household Income: Disposable: Avg: Per Capita: Without Pension: Families: With Children: Single Parents data is updated yearly, averaging 18,565.000 EUR from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2024, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24,636.000 EUR in 2023 and a record low of 14,387.000 EUR in 2007. Austria Household Income: Disposable: Avg: Per Capita: Without Pension: Families: With Children: Single Parents data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Austria. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Austria – Table AT.H018: Household Income and Expenditure.

Administrative disposable income is a third pillar of the income statistics that Statbel publishes, alongside "\2" and poverty indicators based on "\2", and allows answering other types of questions than SILC and tax statistics.

SILC uses "\2" at the household level as a concept of income, cumulating the incomes of all household members. In the next step, this disposable income is converted into equivalised disposable income to take into account the composition of the household. Based on the SILC, at-risk-of-poverty figures are published up to the provincial level. However, the sample size does not allow for analyses at a more detailed geographical level. However, statistics based on tax revenues are available up to the level of the statistical sector, but are limited to taxable income in the context of personal income tax returns. Non-taxable income is not taken into account and there is also no correction according to the composition of the household.

The variable "administrative equivalised disposable income" responds to a growing demand for income and poverty figures at the communal level. It uses an income concept based on administrative sources that tries to correspond as much as possible to that of SILC. For the population as a whole, both taxable and non-taxable income are taken into account. They are added together for all members of the household in order to obtain an administrative disposable income for the household. After adjusting for the composition of the household, the variable "administrative equivalised disposable income" is established. This can be used to calculate income and poverty figures at the communal level.

Indicators are not disseminated for an entity and a category when there are at least 15% of people whose equivalent administrative disposable income is missing or when there are less than 100 people with a valid income.

More information on the page "\2" of Statbel

Austria Household Income: Disposable: Avg: Without Pension: Families: With Children: Single Parents data was reported at 37,354.000 EUR in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 35,218.000 EUR for 2023. Austria Household Income: Disposable: Avg: Without Pension: Families: With Children: Single Parents data is updated yearly, averaging 29,798.500 EUR from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2024, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37,354.000 EUR in 2024 and a record low of 22,608.000 EUR in 2007. Austria Household Income: Disposable: Avg: Without Pension: Families: With Children: Single Parents data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Austria. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Austria – Table AT.H018: Household Income and Expenditure.

Italy AAHI: Household Typology: Single Parent with at least One Children data was reported at 22,574.000 EUR in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22,709.000 EUR for 2015. Italy AAHI: Household Typology: Single Parent with at least One Children data is updated yearly, averaging 20,863.000 EUR from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2016, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,709.000 EUR in 2015 and a record low of 20,150.000 EUR in 2003. Italy AAHI: Household Typology: Single Parent with at least One Children data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.H014: Average Annual Household Income.

Table Corrections: Date Note On August 11, 2021, a correction was made to the values associated with the total income concept for 2019. Footnotes: 1 The data source for this table is the final version of the T1 Family File, created by the Centre for Income and Socio-Economic Well-being Statistics of Statistics Canada. Because they are based on a different methodology, estimates of the number of individuals and census families presented in this table differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. Information on the data source, the historical availability, definitions of the terms used, and the geographies available can be found at Technical Reference Guide for the Annual Income Estimates for Census Families Individuals and Seniors - opens in a new browser window." 2 Families are comprised of: 1) couples (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living in the same dwelling with or without children, and 2) single parents (male or female) living with one or more children. Persons who are not matched to a family become persons not in census families. They may be living alone, with a family to whom they are related, with a family to whom they are unrelated or with other persons not in census families. Beginning in 2001, same-sex couples reporting as couples are counted as couple families. 3 A couple family consists of a couple living together (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living at the same address with or without children. Beginning in 2001, same-sex couples reporting as couples are counted as couple families. 4 A lone-parent family is a family with only one parent, male or female, and with at least one child. 5 This table should only be used in conjunction with income statistics produced using the T1 Family File. Because the counts available in this table are based on a different methodology, the family and person counts will differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. 6 The Census Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) is used for data dissemination of the census metropolitan areas and the census agglomerations: from 1997 to 2001, SGC 1996; from 2002 to 2006, SGC 2001; from 2007 to 2011, SGC 2006; from 2012 to 2015, SGC 2011; as of 2016, SGC 2016. Please note that census agglomerations were introduced in this CANSIM table in 2008. 7 Children are tax filers or imputed persons in couple and lone-parent families. Tax filing children do not live with their spouse, have no children of their own and live with their parent(s). Most children are identified from the Canada Child Tax Benefit file, a provincial births file or a previous T1 family file. 8 Characteristics such as age are as of December 31 of the reference year.

Italy AAHI: Household Typology: Single Parent with Adult Sons data was reported at 30,465.000 EUR in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 30,138.000 EUR for 2014. Italy AAHI: Household Typology: Single Parent with Adult Sons data is updated yearly, averaging 31,011.000 EUR from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2015, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33,398.000 EUR in 2009 and a record low of 29,408.000 EUR in 2003. Italy AAHI: Household Typology: Single Parent with Adult Sons data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.H014: Average Annual Household Income.

In 2023, 27.4 percent of Hispanic families with a single mother were living below the poverty level in the United States. While this poverty rate has dropped significantly since the 1990's, it is still much higher than white, non-Hispanic single mother households.Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter.

Australia Number of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children data was reported at 590.600 Unit th in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 492.500 Unit th for 2018. Australia Number of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children data is updated yearly, averaging 526.600 Unit th from Jun 2001 (Median) to 2020, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 590.600 Unit th in 2020 and a record low of 492.500 Unit th in 2018. Australia Number of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.H034: Survey of Income and Housing: Number of Household: by Family Composition.

Footnotes: 1 The data source for this table is the final version of the T1 Family File, created by the Centre for Income and Socio-Economic Well-being Statistics of Statistics Canada. Because they are based on a different methodology, estimates of the number of individuals and census families presented in this table differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. Information on the data source, the historical availability, definitions of the terms used, and the geographies available can be found at Technical Reference Guide for the Annual Income Estimates for Census Families Individuals and Seniors - opens in a new browser window." 2 Families are comprised of: 1) couples (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living in the same dwelling with or without children, and 2) single parents (male or female) living with one or more children. Persons who are not matched to a family become persons not in census families. They may be living alone, with a family to whom they are related, with a family to whom they are unrelated or with other persons not in census families. Beginning in 2001, same-sex couples reporting as couples are counted as couple families. 3 Characteristics such as age are as of December 31 of the reference year. 4 A couple family consists of a couple living together (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living at the same address with or without children. Beginning in 2001, same-sex couples reporting as couples are counted as couple families. 5 Children are tax filers or imputed persons in couple and lone-parent families. Tax filing children do not live with their spouse, have no children of their own and live with their parent(s). Most children are identified from a file pertaining to Federal Child Benefits, a provincial births file or a previous T1 Family File. 6 A lone-parent family is a family with only one parent, male or female, and with at least one child. 7 This table should only be used in conjunction with income statistics produced using the T1 Family File. Because the counts available in this table are based on a different methodology, the family and person counts will differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. 8 The Census Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) is used for data dissemination of the census metropolitan areas and the census agglomerations: from 1997 to 2001, SGC 1996; from 2002 to 2006, SGC 2001; from 2007 to 2011, SGC 2006; from 2012 to 2015, SGC 2011; as of 2016, SGC 2016. Please note that census agglomerations were introduced in this CANSIM table in 2008. 9 Tax filers are people who filed a tax return for the reference year and were alive at the end of the year. 10 Dependant is a member of a family who did not file a personal income tax return for the referenced year. 11 A person not in census families is an individual who is not part of a census family, couple family or lone-parent family. Persons not in census families may live with their married children or with their children who have children of their own. They may be living with a family to whom they are related or unrelated. They may also be living alone or with other non-family persons.

In 1990, 48.1 percent of all Black families with a single mother in the United States lived below the poverty level. In 2023, that figure had decreased to 25.9 percent. This is significantly higher than white households with a single mother. Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter.

Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Tenure & Landlord: Renter: Private Landlord data was reported at 47.300 % in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 46.700 % for 2018. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Tenure & Landlord: Renter: Private Landlord data is updated yearly, averaging 43.200 % from Jun 2001 (Median) to 2020, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.000 % in 2016 and a record low of 37.800 % in 2004. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Tenure & Landlord: Renter: Private Landlord data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.H042: Survey of Income and Housing: Percentage of Households: by Tenure & Landlord.

Australia Average Number of Dependent Children in Household: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children data was reported at 1.800 Person in 2020. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.800 Person for 2018. Australia Average Number of Dependent Children in Household: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children data is updated yearly, averaging 1.710 Person from Jun 2003 (Median) to 2020, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.800 Person in 2020 and a record low of 1.700 Person in 2016. Australia Average Number of Dependent Children in Household: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.H039: Survey of Income and Housing: Average Number of Dependent Children in Household: by Family Composition.

Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Govt Pensions & Allowances data was reported at 37.500 % in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 39.800 % for 2018. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Govt Pensions & Allowances data is updated yearly, averaging 44.450 % from Jun 2003 (Median) to 2020, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 54.200 % in 2004 and a record low of 37.500 % in 2020. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Govt Pensions & Allowances data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.H040: Survey of Income and Housing: Percentage of Households: by Source of Income.

Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Other Income data was reported at 3.400 % in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.200 % for 2018. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Other Income data is updated yearly, averaging 3.850 % from Jun 2003 (Median) to 2020, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.200 % in 2018 and a record low of 1.800 % in 2004. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Other Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.H040: Survey of Income and Housing: Percentage of Households: by Source of Income.

Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Wages And Salaries data was reported at 57.000 % in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 51.000 % for 2018. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Wages And Salaries data is updated yearly, averaging 48.300 % from Jun 2003 (Median) to 2020, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 57.000 % in 2020 and a record low of 40.900 % in 2004. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income: Wages And Salaries data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.H040: Survey of Income and Housing: Percentage of Households: by Source of Income.

Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income data was reported at 100.000 % in 2020. This stayed constant from the previous number of 100.000 % for 2018. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income data is updated yearly, averaging 100.000 % from Jun 2003 (Median) to 2020, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.000 % in 2020 and a record low of 100.000 % in 2020. Australia Percentage of Households: One Family: One Parent with Dependent Children: Source of Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.H040: Survey of Income and Housing: Percentage of Households: by Source of Income.