The number of U.S. children in a two-parent home is now at its highest level in decades, defying predictions of future decline.
The data comes from the Institute for Family Studies. Their research went back to 1960 when the rate of two-parent households was nearly 88%. But over the years it steadily dropped, reaching as low as 67% in 2005.
But, thankfully, things are beginning to change. Last year, two-parent homes rebounded to about 71%, a number not seen since 1990. Study author Nicholas Zill says the data shows previous predictions of “a relentless increase in family instability or single parenthood were simply wrong.”
He says the driving factors are couples waiting longer to have kids and the increase of family-oriented immigrants to the U.S.