Single Parenthood

Single parenthood describes households that consist of a parent and one or more dependent children without the presence or support of a spouse or a partner. The number of single-parent families has been dramatically increasing since the beginning of the last three decades of the 20th century. For example, in the United States, the share of families headed by a single parent more than doubled between 1970 and 2014, with approximately 28% of children being raised in single-parent households in 2014. This percentage represents the highest proportion of single-parent households across the countries that belong to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. Worldwide, the lowest share of single-parent families is in Asia and the Middle East. For example, only approximately 15% of children in ...