U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Department of Commerce News

         EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10 A.M. EST, NOVEMBER 26, 1996 (TUESDAY)

Public Information Office                                          CB96-195
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Ken Bryson
301-457-2465

             FAMILY COMPOSITION CHANGING, CENSUS REPORT SHOWS

     Significant changes in America's household and family composition have 
occurred in the past 25 years with a smaller than ever proportion of 
traditional two-parent families with children,  according to a new report, 
"Household and Family Characteristics:  March 1995," P20-488, issued today 
by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau.  Also, childless couples, 
single-parent families, and people living alone have become increasingly 
common, the report said.

     "The increasing diversity of household types continues to challenge our 
efforts to measure and describe American society," says Ken Bryson, author of 
the report.  "The 'typical' household is an illusion," he added.

     Following are other changes from 1970 to 1995, for America's households 
and families:

        1970                                   1995

Married couples with children      Married couples with children
made up 40 percent of              make up 25 percent of
households.                        households.

There were 3.14 people per         There are 2.65 people per
household.                         household.

One out of every five              Only one out of every 10
households had five or more        households has five or more
people.                            people.

People living alone made up        People living alone make up 
one-sixth of households.           one-fourth of the households.

5.6 million families were          12.2 million families are
maintained by women with no        maintained by women with no
husband present.                   husband present.

1.2 million families were          3.2 million families are
maintained by men with no          maintained by men with no wife
wife present.                      present.

Two out of three households        Four out of five households
were in metropolitan areas.        are in metropolitan areas.

44 percent of families had no      51 percent of the families
own children under 18 at home.     have no own children under 18
                                   at home.


     A "household" is an individual or a group of people who occupy a housing 
unit, whereas a "family" is a group of two or more people, one of whom is the 
householder, living together, who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption.

     Information in this is report is based on March Current Population Survey 
results for 1970, 1980, 1990, and 1995.  The Current Population Survey is a 
monthly household survey used primarily to collect information on the nation's 
work force, and is subject to sampling error.  
-X-
The Census Bureau--preeminent collector and provider of timely, relevant, and 
quality data about the people and economy of the United States.  In over 100 
surveys annually and 20 censuses a decade, evolving from the first census in 
1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America's people, 
businesses, industries, and institutions.


Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Public Information Office
(301) 763-3030

Last Revised: April 09, 2001 at 10:25:00 AM

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