The typical American picture of a family with 2.5 kids might not be as relevant as it once was: In 2023, there was an average of 1.94 children under 18 per family in the United States. This is a decrease from 2.33 children under 18 per family in 1960.
Familial structure in the United States
If there’s one thing the United States is known for, it’s diversity. Whether this is diversity in ethnicity, culture, or family structure, there is something for everyone in the U.S. Two-parent households in the U.S. are declining, and the number of families with no children are increasing. The number of families with children has stayed more or less constant since 2000.
Adoptions in the U.S.
Families in the U.S. don’t necessarily consist of parents and their own biological children. In 2021, around 35,940 children were adopted by married couples, and 13,307 children were adopted by single women.
Average number of own children under 18 in families with children in the United States from 1960 to 2023
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
US Census Bureau. (November 10, 2023). Average number of own children under 18 in families with children in the United States from 1960 to 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/718084/average-number-of-own-children-per-family/
US Census Bureau. "Average number of own children under 18 in families with children in the United States from 1960 to 2023." Chart. November 10, 2023. Statista. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/718084/average-number-of-own-children-per-family/
US Census Bureau. (2023). Average number of own children under 18 in families with children in the United States from 1960 to 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 10, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/718084/average-number-of-own-children-per-family/
US Census Bureau. "Average Number of Own Children under 18 in Families with Children in The United States from 1960 to 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 10 Nov 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/718084/average-number-of-own-children-per-family/
US Census Bureau, Average number of own children under 18 in families with children in the United States from 1960 to 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/718084/average-number-of-own-children-per-family/ (last visited October 10, 2024)
Average number of own children under 18 in families with children in the United States from 1960 to 2023 [Graph], US Census Bureau, November 10, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/718084/average-number-of-own-children-per-family/