Mothers by the Numbers
Info about mothers from the Census Bureau
How Many Mothers
82.8 million
Estimated number of mothers in the United States in 2004.
55%
Percentage of 15 to 44-year-olds who are mothers.
81%
Percentage of women 40 to 44 who are mothers. In 1976, 90% of women in that age group were mothers.
How Many Children
2.1
The total fertility rate (TFR) in 2006—the first time since 1971 that the nation’s TFR was at replacement level, which is the birth rate required to replace the population.
94.1
Number of births in 2006 per 1,000 women of childbearing age in Utah, which led the nation. At the other end of the spectrum was Vermont, with a rate of 52.2 births.
94%
Among the 37.8 million mothers living with children younger than 18, the percentage who lived with their biological children only. In addition, 3% lived with stepchildren, 2% with adopted children, and less than 1% with foster children.
Moms Who've Recently Given Birth
4.3 million
Number of births in the United States in 2006. Of this number, 435,427 were to teens 15 to 19, and 112,432 to mothers 40 or older.
25.2
Average age of women in 2005 when they gave birth for the first time. This is up 3.8 years since 1970.
40%
Percentage of births that were the mother's first in 2006. Another 32% were the second-born; 17%, third; and 11%, fourth or more.
37,402
Number of births in 2005 that did not occur in hospitals.
1 in 31
The likelihood of a woman delivering twins in 2005. Her chances of delivering triplets and higher order multiple births was approximately 1 in 618.
August
The month with the highest number of births, with 369,316 taking place that month in 2005.
Tuesday
The day of the week with the highest number of births, with an average of 13,169 taking place on Tuesdays during 2005.
Jacob and Emily
The most popular baby names for boys and girls, respectively, in 2006.
Mothers Remembered
21,135
Number of florist establishments nationwide in 2005. The 101,861 employees in floral shops across our nation will be especially busy preparing, selling, and delivering floral arrangements for Mother's Day.
The flowers bought for mom have a good chance of having been grown in California. Among the 15 surveyed states, California was the leading provider of cut flowers in 2006, accounting for 77% of domestic flower production ($316 million out of $411 million) in those states.
12,473
Number of employees of the 120 greeting-card publishing establishments in 2005.
12,854
The number of cosmetics, beauty supplies, and perfume stores nationwide in 2005. Perfume is one of the most popular gifts given on Mother's Day.
29,624
Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2005—the place to purchase necklaces, earrings, and other timeless pieces for mom.
Working Moms (and Moms-to-Be)
5.6 million
Number of stay-at-home moms in 2006.
55%
Among mothers with infants in 2004, the percentage in the labor force, down from a record high of 59% in 1998.
751,322
Number of child care centers across the country in 2005. These include more than 73,000 centers employing more than 800,000 workers and another 678,000 self-employed people or other businesses without paid employees. Many mothers turn to these centers to help juggle motherhood and careers.
67%
Percentage of women who gave birth for the first time between 2001 and 2003 and worked during their pregnancy. This compares with 44% who gave birth for the first time between 1961 and 1965.
80%
The percentage of first-time mothers who worked one month or less before giving birth in the early part of this decade. This compares with percent who did so between 1961 and 1965.
55%
The percentage of first-time mothers in the early part of this decade who were working by the sixth month after they gave birth. In the early 1960s, the corresponding percentage was 14%.
83%
The percentage of mothers who went back to work within a year of their child’s birth who returned to the same employer. Seven in 10 of these women returned to jobs at the same pay, skill level, and hours worked per week.
Single Moms
10.4 million
The number of single mothers living with children younger than 18, up from 3.4 million in 1970.
6.1 million
Number of custodial mothers entitled to child support in 2005.
Meals with Mommy
54% and 79%
Percentages of children younger than 6 who eat breakfast and dinner, respectively, with their mother every day. The corresponding percentages who eat with their father were 41% and 66%.
Fact Monster™ Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
