US households with children decreases from 2019 to 2023: Study

A study published on Wednesday found that the percentage of United States households that have children declined across the board from 2019 through 2023, which reflects the drop in fertility rates in the U.S.

The number of households with married opposite-sex couples who have children in 2023 was approximately the same as 2019, with both years hovering at approximately 38%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But the numbers dipped two percent from 2019 for married same-sex couples. The bureau found that 17% of same-sex married households had children in 2023, compared to 19% four years earlier.

The share of unmarried couple households with children also declined in the same period, with 10% of same-sex couple households having children in 2023, compared to 12% in 2019. In opposite-sex unmarried households it dropped from 36% in 2019, to 34% in 2023.

"Married same-sex couples were more likely than their unmarried counterparts to have children living in the household," the bureau said.

Among same-sex couples, women were more likely to have children in their households than men. 

The term "households with children" refers to all youth under the age of 18, regardless of whether they are biological, step-, or adopted children.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.