In June 2016, there were 948,800 one parent families making up 14% of all families. Almost two-thirds of these one parent families (65%) had dependants living with them. (Datacube 1)



ONE PARENT FAMILIES WITH DEPENDANTS

In June 2016, there were 618,900 one parent families with dependants (including children under 15 and dependent students aged 15–24 years); the vast majority (83%) were single mother families. Of all one parent families with children and dependants, 53% had a youngest dependant aged 0–9 years. (Datacubes 1, 9)

There were 363,200 one parent families where the parent was employed and had dependants in June 2016; this represented 59% of all one parent families with dependants. Of these families 287,700 had an employed single mother and 75,500 had an employed single father. In one parent families with dependants, 56% of mothers were employed, compared with 72% of fathers. (Datacube 9) Over three-quarters (76%) of employed single mothers were aged between 35 and 54 years. (Datacube 7)

Overall the proportion of one parent families with children or dependants aged 15-24 years where the parent was employed generally increased with the age of the youngest dependant, from 40% (youngest dependant under 5 years old) to 72% (youngest dependant 15–24 years old). However, this increase was more prominent for single mothers. (Datacube 9)