Child Support Statistics in the U.S.
Every few years, the U.S. Census Bureau releases a report titled Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support. It’s based on data from the most recent Census Bureau figures and attempts to create an accurate snapshot of:
How many single parents have a child support order in place (either formal or informal) How much money is actually received How much money is owed
For those who imagine that single moms and dads who receive child support are living ’the high life’ and taking advantage of their ex-spouses, the actual numbers are shocking.
Child Support Agreements in the U.S.
According to the Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support:2015 report re-released in January 2020 (original release January 2018), there were 13.6 million custodial single parents living in the U.S.
12.1% are informal child support agreements established between the two parents87.9% of those child support agreements are formal agreements, established in court or through a Title IV-D agencyAbout half of them (50.2%) have some type of legal or informal child support agreement in placeFewer than one-quarter (21.7%) of all custodial parents requested government assistance collecting child support
Typical Child Support Amounts Owed
Wondering if the child support you owe or receive is typical? Here are the latest figures from 2015, based on the government’s child support statistics:
$33.7 billion dollars in child support was owed during the year 2015The average amount of child support due was $5,760 per year. That’s less than $500 per month.Only 60% of that money—an average of $3,447 per year—was actually received
Partial-Payments vs. Full Payments
Another surprising statistic is how many single parents are receiving some money, but far less than what is actually owed.
Among the 6.8 million custodial single parents who were awarded child support in 2015, only 43.5% received all of the child support money that was due (similar to the 43.4% seen in 2011)25.8% of custodial parents received some of the money that was due30.7% received none of the child support money due61.3% of custodial parents received some form of non-cash child support in 2015
Additional Child Support Statistics
Another common question about child support is how many women vs. men are awarded child support dollars each year. According to the figures from 2015:
39.6% of custodial single fathers were awarded child support during the same year52.7% of custodial single mothers were awarded child support
