There are 7.3 million single mothers in the U.S., as well as 1.9 million single fathers. Single parents often face the dual challenge of being both the primary breadwinners and caregivers for their families.

This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Bruno Venditti, represents the percentage of mothers in the U.S. who are single, by race/ethnicity, in 2023.

The data comes from the Center for American Progress.

In 2023, single-mother families accounted for 1 in 5 families with children under 18.

The majority of single mothers are in their 30s or 40s and do not have a college degree. Overall, single mothers face a 28% poverty rate.

According to the Center for American Progress, family structures in the U.S. have changed significantly over the past five decades.

Marriage rates have also declined:

If you enjoyed this topic, check out this graphic that shows the distribution of wealth in the United States from 1990 to 2023 by generation.