* No spouse present - with and without children aged 18 and under.
The Census Bureau defines a family as follows: "A family is a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family."
Families as of March of the following year.
Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter.
Data prior to 2018 can be found .
Citation formats
Number of single mother families living below poverty line in the U.S. 1990-2024
In 2024, around *** million families with a female householder lived below the poverty level in the U.S. Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing, and shelter.
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U.S. Census Bureau. (September 9, 2025). Number of families with a single mother as head of household in the United States who live below the poverty level from 1990 to 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 04, 2026, from /statistics/204996/number-of-poor-families-with-a-female-householder-in-the-us/
U.S. Census Bureau. "Number of families with a single mother as head of household in the United States who live below the poverty level from 1990 to 2024 (in 1,000s)." Chart. September 9, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 04, 2026. /statistics/204996/number-of-poor-families-with-a-female-householder-in-the-us/
U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Number of families with a single mother as head of household in the United States who live below the poverty level from 1990 to 2024 (in 1,000s). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 04, 2026. /statistics/204996/number-of-poor-families-with-a-female-householder-in-the-us/
U.S. Census Bureau. "Number of Families with a Single Mother as Head of Household in The United States Who Live below The Poverty Level from 1990 to 2024 (in 1,000s)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 9 Sep 2025, /statistics/204996/number-of-poor-families-with-a-female-householder-in-the-us/
U.S. Census Bureau, Number of families with a single mother as head of household in the United States who live below the poverty level from 1990 to 2024 (in 1,000s) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/204996/number-of-poor-families-with-a-female-householder-in-the-us/ (last visited August 04, 2026)
Number of families with a single mother as head of household in the United States who live below the poverty level from 1990 to 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph], U.S. Census Bureau, September 9, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/204996/number-of-poor-families-with-a-female-householder-in-the-us/
