Chapter 13: Family Structures Around the World

The introductory text reads, Children fare best when both parents actively care for them every day. This is most likely to occur if the parents are married, although there are many exceptions. Many developmentalists focus on the rate of single parenthood, shown on this map. Single parents often raise children well, especially with support from their families, friends, and communities.
A world map titled rates of single parenthood shows the distribution of single parent households and the percentage of children living in such households in select countries.
A map key to the bottom left shows 3 labels, 0 percent to 19 percent; 20 percent to 39 percent; and 40 percent to 60 percent. The percent of children living in single parent households are labeled separately.

In North America, Canada and the United States show a rate of 20 percent to 39 percent while Mexico shows a rate of 0 percent to 19 percent. The percent of children living in single parent households are as follows: Canada, 22 percent; United States, 26 percent; Mexico, 13 percent.
In South America, Colombia shows a rate of 20 percent to 39 percent while Argentina shows a rate of 0 percent to 19 percent. The percent of children living in single parent households are as follows: Colombia, 33 percent; Argentina, 19 percent.
In Europe, the United Kingdom shows a rate of 20 percent to 39 percent while Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Austria and Greece show a rate of 0 percent to 19 percent. The percent of children living in single parent households are as follows:
United Kingdom, 22 percent; Portugal, 12 percent; Spain, 7 percent; France, 15 percent; Ireland, 24 percent; Italy, 10 percent; Germany, 14 percent; Poland, 11 percent; Sweden, 18 percent; Finland, 14 percent; Czech Republic, 15 percent; Austria, 14 percent; Greece, 5 percent.
In Africa, Egypt and Nigeria show a rate of 0 percent to 19 percent. Kenya shows a rate of 20 percent to 39 percent. South Africa shows a rate of 40 percent to 60 percent. The percentage of children living in single parent households are as follows: Egypt, 5 percent; Nigeria, 13 percent; Kenya, 26 percent; South Africa, 26 percent.
In Asia, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia show a rate of 0 percent to 19 percent. The percent of children living in single parent households are as follows: India, 9 percent; China, 4 percent; South Korea, 9 percent; Japan, 12 percent; Taiwan, 4 percent; Philippines, 10 percent; Indonesia, 10 percent; Malaysia, 6 percent.
In Oceania, Australia shows a rate of 0 to 19 percent while New Zealand shows a rate of 20 percent to 39 percent. The percent of children living in single parent households are as follows: Australia, 17 percent; New Zealand, 24 percent.
A subheading reads, living arrangements of U. S. 0 to 18 year olds. An introductory text reads, Note that, while fewer children live with their two married biological parents from birth to age 18, it is not that more children are living in stepfamilies but that more individuals have decided to raise children on their own. Another shift is evident: Single parents once were almost always mothers, but now some are single fathers.
A horizontal bar chart plots percentage of households on the horizontal axis and types of households on the vertical axis. Each type of household on the vertical axis shows three bars corresponding to the years, 1960, 1980, and 2018. The data is as follows,
No parent household asterisk: 1960, 4 percent; 1980, 4 percent; 2018, 4 percent. Asterisk corresponds to a text that reads, Includes other relatives and non-relatives (Most of the children are adolescents.)
Single father household: 1960, 1 percent; 1980, 2 percent; 2018, 4 percent.
Single mother household: 1960, 8 percent; 1980, 18 percent; 2018, 22 percent.
Two parent household: 1960, 88 percent; 1980, 77 percent; 2018; 69 percent.