America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

Share of U.S. Coupled Households With Children Declined in 2023

The share of both same-sex and opposite-sex households with children under 18 — married and unmarried — declined from 2019 to 2023, a reflection of drops in U.S. fertility rates.

In 2023, about 17% of married same-sex households had a child present compared to 19% in 2019, according to recently released tables and graphics that provide estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey on the characteristics of same-sex couple households.

The new tables show the share of married opposite-sex couple households with children declined statistically, though the percentage in both years rounded to 38%.

The share of unmarried couple households with children present also dropped from 2019 to 2023: 12% to 10% in same-sex households and 36% to 34% in opposite-sex households.

Continue reading to learn more about same-sex couple U.S. households.

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