2025
October 16th
Decades-long trend reverses for children with married parents
More children are growing up with married parents than they were ten years ago. For many, this news comes as a surprise. Between 1970 and 2012, the share of children growing up with married parents fell dramatically from 85% to 64%. This has led many to think that marriage is on its way out for good. But the story has since changed. Between 2012 and 2024, the share of kids living with married parents rose two percentage points from 64% to 66%. Although this small increase pales in comparison to the multi-decade decline that preceded it, it signifies a key reversal in the fortunes of American families. For kids, at least, family is trending up.
