U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Skip Header


Statistical Brief: Stepchildren and Their Families

Report Number SB-1-89

Almost 1 in 5 married-couple families with children had a stepchild living in the household in 1985.

By 1985, a higher proportion of Americans (23 percent) than ever before had been divorced at some point in their lives. Because most people who divorce eventually remarry, more children and adults experience living as part of a stepfamily.

This Brief describes the situation of married-couple families with stepchildren. It does not count stepparents and stepchildren who live in different households and, therefore, underestimates the total number of stepparents and stepchildren. Stepchildren who have been adopted by the stepparent with whom they are living are still considered to be stepchildren for the purposes of this report.

Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
Is this page helpful?
Thumbs Up Image Yes Thumbs Down Image No
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum 255 characters maximum reached
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?

Top

Back to Header