In 2011, about one in five children (20.3%) under 15 years of age in SA lived in a lone parent family. This figure has fluctuated in recent years, from 19.1% in 2008 to 24.2% in 2009.
Nationally, 19.0% of children under 15 years lived in a lone parent family in 2011. Among the states and territories, Tasmania had the largest proportion, (24.5%) while the ACT had the smallest (13.2%).
Footnote(s): (a) Proportion of children aged under 15 years living in lone-parent families.
Family composition data are collected through the ABS annual survey, Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families (cat. no. 6224.0.55.001). The survey results represent households across Australia except those in discrete Indigenous communities.
The size and composition of families have changed considerably in recent decades and remain of interest to social commentators and policy makers. Lone parents families are more likely to be at risk of poverty, reliance on government benefits and other forms of economic and social disadvantage. Lone parents may also find it difficult to balance work and care responsibilities (Measuring Wellbeing: Frameworks for Australian Social Statistics (cat. no. 4160.0).
For more information about family composition statistics and methodologies, please refer to Improvements to Family Estimates from the Labour Force Survey (cat. no. 6224.0.55.002).
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