Single Mom Statistics & The Truth About Single Moms

Unstuck Ministries (formerly The Life of a Single Mom) crested over 1,000,000 single mothers served in 2022. We know single moms! While our services eventually transitioned into programs for all women, we remain the largest provider of single mom curriculum and Bible study support group implementation in the nation. That said, we continue to be on the forefront of conversations on single motherhood in the U.S., fatherlessness, and the challenges these families face in raising their children effectively.

In an effort to be a resource to you, below you will find a few of the current statistics regarding single mother-led homes in the U.S., including data in a variety of areas:

Poverty

42% of all children living in a single-parent household are considered poverty-stricken.
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2018).
71% of single mothers receive SNAP and TANF benefits annually.
(USDA, Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households, Fiscal Year 2018).
Single mothers are seven times more likely to live in poverty than those that are married.
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2018).
$80 billion in welfare assistance is paid out to single-parent households each year.
(U.S. Government Publishing Office & US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2018).
A single mother’s average income is $32,000 annually for a family of four.
(US Census Bureau, 2018).

Abuse

The rate of children being abused in a single-parent home is 21%. This is triple the rate of those in two-parent homes at 8%.
(Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, Congressional Report, 2010).
Children from fatherless homes are 71% more likely to be maltreated, 62% more likely to be neglected, and 59% more likely to sustain serious physical injury from abuse.
(Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, Congressional Report, 2010).
90% of all homeless and runaway children come from single-parent homes.
(Congressional Report, 111^th Second Session, Vol. 156, Sec. 8, p 10707, 2010).

Addiction

1.4 million children reside in a single-parent household that abuses alcohol.
(U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2014).
75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse programs are products of single-mother households.
(Rainbows for all God’s Children, 2020).
Children from fatherless homes are 10 times more likely to use drugs or alcohol.
(Rainbows for all God’s Children, 2020).
1.4 million children reside in a single-parent household that abuses alcohol.
(U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2014).
Children from fatherless homes are 10 times more likely to use drugs or alcohol.
(Rainbows for all God’s Children, 2020)

Imprisonment & Crime

Children in fatherless households are 20x more likely to be incarcerated.
(Texas Dept. of Corrections, 2018).
2.7 million children have at least one parent who is incarcerated in the United States.
(Justice Strategies, 2017).
85% of children from fatherless homes are more likely to exhibit a behavioral dysfunction than those of two-parent homes.
(Center for Disease Control, 2018)
2.7 million children have at least one parent who is incarcerated in the United States.
(Justice Strategies, 2017).

Education

Nearly 2.1 million college students are raising children without a partner.
(Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Briefing Paper, September 2017).
66% of all single mothers do not have a college degree, and 14% have not graduated high school.
(USDA, Expenditures on Children By Families Report, January 2017).
71% of children from fatherless homes drop out of high school, leaving these children nine times more likely to abandon their education.
(National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools, 2020).
62% of mothers that are in college are single mothers.
(National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, Spring 2017).

Homelessness

A typical homeless family is comprised of a single mother with her two young children.
(The Bassuk Center on Homeless and Vulnerable Children & Youth)

Employment

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 77.6% of single mothers are employed.
(U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)

Overcoming the Statistics

With all the statistics that point to seemingly insurmountable challenges for single mother-led homes, it could be easy for a single mom to feel defeated, overwhelmed, and ill-equipped for the large task of parenting her child(ren) alone for as many as twenty years. Or quite frankly, a church, family member, or community member could likewise feel defeated, considering the scope of the challenge, and the necessity to find meaningful ways to help. If you are a single mom reading these statistics (or a church or community member looking for creative ways to help a single mom-led family), take some time to review our website under the Single Mom Help section HERE.

If you are a single mom reading these statistics, here are a few truths that you need to know:

1. You will make it. Unstuck Ministries has been serving women for almost two decades. With almost one million single moms served alone, we understand all-too-well the complexities of a single mom’s journey. In fact, most of our team have also been single moms, so we get it! The weight of everything – dishes and diapers and bills and endless demands – can seem too much to bear, at times. There are days when it can feel like it is all crashing down. But mom, you are going to make it. We serve a mighty God that is faithful to restore all that has been lost in a prior season. Whatever mountain you are facing, remember we serve a mountain-moving God. Know that you will overcome whatever trial is in front of you, and that you will make it!

2. The Lord loves you. There is no doubt that single motherhood, in many cases, can be wrought with pain from divorce, death, or disappointment. The trauma of losing a spouse or a relationship can leave wounds that take much time to heal. In the healing process, it can be easy to feel unloved. But thank God, our feelings don’t always constitute truth. The truth is, our Heavenly Father loves us with an everlasting and unfailing love.

We are loved, even when we don’t feel loved. Just look at John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Think about that for just a minute. God loves each of us so deeply that He sent His only son to die for our sins so that we may be set free and live in eternity with Him. The Lord loves us more deeply than we can comprehend, even on our bad, most unlovable days.

3. The Lord sees you. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8. There are times in our lives, when we feel unseen and unvalued by those around us. We feel invisible, like our words don’t mean much. There are times, when we’ve done all we know to do – pray, praise, read the Word, attend church – and yet, we still face the same mountain for the tenth time. The Lord sees you. He cares for you and has bottled every tear you have shed. Take comfort in knowing the Creator of Heaven and Earth sees you. He knows your sorrows. He is faithful to redeem, restore, renew, and resurrect.

4. You need a tribe. You’ve likely heard the saying “it takes a village” before, and it is absolutely true. We weren’t meant to limp through life alone and isolated. It is simply not God’s design for us. In fact, isolation can often leave us vulnerable and can make the problems we face seem far larger. Unfortunately, many single moms lack a meaningful support system. This is why Unstuck Ministries has worked for almost two decades to start single moms’ support groups in churches and nonprofits. It is important that single mothers can find their tribe and receive the support, networking, life skills, and discipleship they need to thrive. We believe there is life and hope found in the local church. Find a single mom support group near you today!

5. You are not alone. Do not believe the lie of the enemy of your soul that no one cares for you, or that you are completely on your own. In the practical sense, there are millions of single mothers parenting children alone, so first, we understand that we certainly aren’t alone in our experience. But it’s deeper than that. God says that He never leaves us. He is with us. He guides, leads, directs, provides, shelters, and loves. He gives beauty where our ashes once lay. He uses our testimony for His glory. He creates rivers in dry wastelands of loneliness and hardship and struggle. Find a single mom support group in your area that can help you make godly friendships HERE.

6. You are stronger than you think. Philippians 4:13 says “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” You have the power of the living God inside of you. The same power that rose Christ from the dead lives in you, if you are Believer. It is time you rise up and walk in the authority that has been granted to you. Stop believing the lie that you are not strong enough to face the mountain in front of you. You serve a mountain-moving God. Rise up in strength and understand it is your faith in the Lord that sustains you, not yourself or your own strength. If you are looking for encouragement during difficult seasons, click HERE for our podcasts.

7. There is help. There is no shame in needing or asking for help. Single mom or not, we all need help in life, whether emotional, financial, parental, or otherwise. Unstuck Ministries has compiled an extensive list of resources for single mothers that include varying support services, such as housing, utility bill payment, education expenses, and much more. Click HERE for our National Resource Guide. Remember, there is no shame in asking for help. That is why these resources are here!

8. Your God is far bigger than any statistic. Here are just a few Scriptures to remind you that you are not a statistic. Your children are not destined to become a statistic. Your God is far bigger than a number written on a sheet of paper. There are promises that the Lord has given in His Word for you to stand on, as you navigate the challenges of single motherhood:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
“If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom.” Deuteronomy 28:13
“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” 1 John 4:4
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. Matthew 17:20
“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17

Disclaimer: The statistics and data presented on this page are subject to change as new information becomes available. While we strive to keep our content up-to-date and accurate, we cannot guarantee that all information is current at all times. Please verify any critical data independently.

Share This Article:

Recent Posts

Learning How to Pray

Unstuck Ministries has now served over one million single mothers over the last two decades, and we have covered so much through the years in articles, podcasts, videos, eBooks, etc., including grief & trauma, parenting, forgiveness, bitterness, spiritual growth, money management, and so much more. We’ve covered ALL….THE….THINGS! But the topic we’re covering today is the catalyst to it all. Prayer. It is prayer that shifts things. It is prayer that promotes our intimacy with the Lord. It is through prayer that the Lord often teaches us. Sadly, too many Believers in Christ have a weak prayer life. How can you be in relationship with the Lord and not ever talk to Him? This must change. Many Believers often struggle in prayer, because they were

October 5, 2026

Cover photo for article "What To Do When Your Child Is Hurting" by Unstuck Ministries' Featured Expert, Jennifer Maggio.

What To Do When Your Child Is Hurting by Jennifer Maggio

I was 14 years old when a dear friend’s father left her mother. She was devastated. The fighting had gone on for months. It had been tense at home, but she never imagined her parents would actually split. We stayed up and cried together many nights in those first weeks and months. We mourned the loss of the family that would never live in the same home again. We mourned what once was and what could now never be. I listened as she shared her pain and fears of what would eventually happen and how life would never be the same. Her pain became my pain. I just wanted to help her heal, and mostly, I just felt helpless. My mother died when I was

September 21, 2026

Take the Lead by Denise Adcock

I am an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors. When I’m not hiking, I spend my time biking, kayaking, or walking. Being in God’s beautiful creation brings me joy! As a single mom, I shared my love of nature with both of my children. All three of us had bikes, so several times a week we’d ride from our house to a nearby park and hit the trails. When I look back on this today, those trail rides were some of the best experiences we had together as a single-parent family. It helped us let go of our burdens and refocus on what mattered most, our precious family. Being a mom requires courage and leadership. John Maxwell says, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the

September 7, 2026

Unstuck Ministries is a national faith-based nonprofit that exists to see bound women become free – free to parent well, free to manage their money effectively, and free in their spiritual and mental health. With over 1,000,000 women served, we offer a variety of programs and services that bring hope in Christ as the foundation to women everywhere, focusing in 3 key areas: Parenting, Finances, and Mental & Spiritual Wellness. While Unstuck Ministries exists to see women in all walks of life become free, the ministry is also the nation’s largest provider of Christian single mom curriculum. This includes launching thousands of single moms’ support groups in churches, offering life skills through Single Mom University®, and providing ministry leadership training & support. But we don’t stop there! We also host awe-inspiring women’s events and provide a variety of other support services to ensure all women remain unstuck, including videos, podcasts, articles, in-person events, webinars, books, and so much more. For more information, visit www.unstuckministries.com.