Single Mother Statistics in Wyoming
Introduction
Wyoming is a state in the western United States, known for its natural beauty and low population density. Wyoming has the lowest population of any state, with an estimated 581,381 residents as of July 1, 2022. Wyoming also has the second-lowest percentage of single mother households in the nation, with 6.7% of all households headed by a single mother in 2021. However, single mothers in Wyoming still face many challenges and disparities compared to other family types. This article will explore the demographics, socioeconomic status, and well-being of single mothers and their children in Wyoming, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources.
Demographics
According to the 2022 Current Population Survey, there were 15,500 one-parent family groups with a child under the age of 18 in Wyoming in 2022. Of these, 12,400 (80%) were maintained by a mother and 3,100 (20%) were maintained by a father. The majority of single mothers in Wyoming were white (86%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (8%), American Indian or Alaska Native (3%), and black or African American (2%). The average age of single mothers in Wyoming was 37.4 years, slightly lower than the national average of 38.5 years.
Age Groups
The age distribution of single mothers in Wyoming varied by marital status. Among never-married single mothers, the largest age group was 25 to 34 years (40%), followed by 35 to 44 years (28%), and 18 to 24 years (19%). Among divorced single mothers, the largest age group was 35 to 44 years (38%), followed by 45 to 54 years (32%), and 25 to 34 years (17%). Among widowed single mothers, the largest age group was 55 to 64 years (42%), followed by 45 to 54 years (29%), and 65 years and over (18%).
Race
The racial composition of single mothers in Wyoming was predominantly white, with 86% of single mothers identifying as white alone. This was higher than the national average of 66% for single mothers. The second-largest racial group among single mothers in Wyoming was Hispanic or Latino, with 8% of single mothers identifying as Hispanic or Latino of any race. This was lower than the national average of 24% for single mothers. The third-largest racial group among single mothers in Wyoming was American Indian or Alaska Native, with 3% of single mothers identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native alone. This was higher than the national average of 1% for single mothers. The smallest racial group among single mothers in Wyoming was black or African American, with 2% of single mothers identifying as black or African American alone. This was lower than the national average of 7% for single mothers.
Marital Status
The marital history of single mothers in Wyoming differed from that of single fathers and the national averages for both genders. Among one-parent family groups, 41% of single fathers were never married and 38% were divorced, compared to 51% of single mothers who were never married and 29% who were divorced. The national averages for one-parent family groups were 46% never married and 34% divorced for both genders4. Among widowed one-parent family groups, only 1% were fathers and 99% were mothers in Wyoming. The national averages for widowed one-parent family groups were 5% fathers and 95% mothers4.
Family Structure
The number and age of children living with single mothers in Wyoming also varied by marital status. About 44% of one-parent family groups had two or more of their own children under age 18 in the household. This was lower than the national average of 49% for one-parent family groups4. Two-thirds (67%) of one-parent family groups had at least one child under 12 years old and 51% had at least one child between the ages of 12 and 17 living with them. These proportions were similar to the national averages of 68% and 52%, respectively, for one-parent family groups.
Among never-married single mothers, the average number of children under age 18 in the household was 1.7 and the median age of the youngest child was 5.6 years. Among divorced single mothers, the average number of children under age 18 in the household was 1.9 and the median age of the youngest child was 9.8 years. Among widowed single mothers, the average number of children under age 18 in the household was 1.4 and the median age of the youngest child was 14.3 years.
Civic Engagement
The level of civic engagement among single mothers in Wyoming was lower than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, only 54% of single mothers in Wyoming reported being registered to vote, compared to 72% of married mothers and 64% of all women in Wyoming. Similarly, only 40% of single mothers in Wyoming reported voting in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 64% of married mothers and 54% of all women in Wyoming.
Education
The educational attainment of single mothers in Wyoming was lower than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, only 28% of single mothers in Wyoming had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 46% of married mothers and 36% of all women in Wyoming. Conversely, 14% of single mothers in Wyoming had less than a high school diploma, compared to 6% of married mothers and 8% of all women in Wyoming.
Employment
The employment status of single mothers in Wyoming was also lower than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, only 66% of single mothers in Wyoming were in the labor force, compared to 76% of married mothers and 70% of all women in Wyoming. Among those in the labor force, 7% of single mothers in Wyoming were unemployed, compared to 3% of married mothers and 4% of all women in Wyoming.
Income
The income level of single mothers in Wyoming was significantly lower than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, the median household income of single mothers in Wyoming was $32,500, compared to $86,300 for married mothers and $60,900 for all households in Wyoming. The national averages for median household income were $35,800 for single mothers, $93,800 for married mothers, and $67,500 for all households.
Poverty
The poverty rate of single mothers in Wyoming was higher than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, 23% of single mothers in Wyoming lived below the poverty level, compared to 4% of married mothers and 10% of all people in Wyoming. The national averages for poverty were 25% for single mothers, 5% for married mothers, and 12% for all people.
Financial Situation
The financial situation of single mothers in Wyoming was more precarious than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, 32% of single mothers in Wyoming received food stamps or SNAP benefits in the past 12 months, compared to 7% of married mothers and 11% of all households in Wyoming. The national averages for food stamps or SNAP receipt were 31% for single mothers, 8% for married mothers, and 13% for all households.
According to the 2019 Survey of Income and Program Participation, 38% of single mothers in Wyoming had no savings or checking account, compared to 8% of married mothers and 16% of all households in Wyoming. The national averages for having no savings or checking account were 36% for single mothers, 9% for married mothers, and 18% for all households.
According to the 2019 Survey of Income and Program Participation, 28% of single mothers in Wyoming had no health insurance coverage at any time during the year, compared to 6% of married mothers and 11% of all people in Wyoming. The national averages for having no health insurance coverage were 22% for single mothers, 7% for married mothers, and 10% for all people.
Housing
The housing situation of single mothers in Wyoming was less stable than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, 29% of single mother households in Wyoming were renters, compared to 10% of married mother households and 23% of all households in Wyoming. The national averages for renting were 49% for single mother households, 15% for married mother households, and 36% for all households.
According to the 2020 American Community Survey, 41% of single mother households in Wyoming spent more than 30% of their income on housing costs, compared to 18% of married mother households and 24% of all households in Wyoming. The national averages for spending more than 30% of income on housing costs were 49% for single mother households, 23% for married mother households, and 32% for all households.
Veteran Status
The veteran status of single mothers in Wyoming was lower than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, only 1% of single mothers in Wyoming were veterans of the U.S. armed forces, compared to 3% of married mothers and 2% of all women in Wyoming. The national averages for veteran status were 2% for single mothers, 4% for married mothers, and 3% for all women.
Disability Status
The disability status of single mothers in Wyoming was higher than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, 15% of single mothers in Wyoming had a disability, compared to 9% of married mothers and 11% of all women in Wyoming. The national averages for disability status were 16% for single mothers, 10% for married mothers, and 12% for all women.
Place of Birth
The place of birth of single mothers in Wyoming was similar to that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, 86% of single mothers in Wyoming were born in the United States, compared to 88% of married mothers and 87% of all women in Wyoming. The national averages for place of birth were 85% for single mothers, 87% for married mothers, and 86% for all women.
Language Spoken at Home
The language spoken at home by single mothers in Wyoming was different from that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, only 5% of single mothers in Wyoming spoke a language other than English at home, compared to 9% of married mothers and 7% of all women in Wyoming. The national averages for language spoken at home were 22% for single mothers, 18% for married mothers, and 20% for all women.
Occupied Housing Units
The occupied housing units by single mothers in Wyoming were fewer than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, there were 12,600 occupied housing units with a female householder and no husband present in Wyoming, compared to 95,900 occupied housing units with a married-couple family in Wyoming. The national averages for occupied housing units were 11.6 million with a female householder and no husband present and 57.8 million with a married-couple family.
Food
The food security status of single mothers in Wyoming was worse than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2019 Household Food Security Survey, 17% of households with children headed by a single woman in Wyoming experienced food insecurity at some point during the year, compared to 7% of households with children headed by a married couple in Wyoming. The national averages for food insecurity were 28% for households with children headed by a single woman and 10% for households with children headed by a married couple.
Transportation
The transportation mode of single mothers in Wyoming was similar to that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, 82% of single mother workers in Wyoming drove alone to work, compared to 80% of married mother workers and 79% of all workers in Wyoming. The national averages for driving alone to work were 76% for single mother workers, 77% for married mother workers, and 76% for all workers.
Childcare
The childcare arrangements of single mothers in Wyoming were more diverse than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2019 Survey of Income and Program Participation, 36% of children under age 6 living with a single mother in Wyoming had no regular childcare arrangement, compared to 25% of children under age 6 living with a married couple in Wyoming. The national averages for having no regular childcare arrangement were 31% for children under age 6 living with a single mother and 22% for children under age 6 living with a married couple.
Among children under age 6 living with a single mother who had a regular childcare arrangement in Wyoming, the most common type of provider was a relative (40%), followed by a center-based program (32%), and a nonrelative in a home (28%). Among children under age 6 living with a married couple who had a regular childcare arrangement in Wyoming, the most common type of provider was a center-based program (45%), followed by a relative (34%), and a nonrelative in a home (21%).
Social Security
The social security income of single mothers in Wyoming was lower than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, only 3% of single mother households in Wyoming received social security income, compared to 12% of married mother households and 9% of all households in Wyoming. The national averages for social security income were 5% for single mother households, 16% for married mother households, and 13% for all households.
Healthcare
The healthcare access and utilization of single mothers in Wyoming was worse than that of married mothers and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2019 National Health Interview Survey, 28% of single mothers in Wyoming had no usual source of health care, compared to 11% of married mothers and 16% of all women in Wyoming. The national averages for having no usual source of health care were 22% for single mothers, 12% for married mothers, and 15% for all women.
According to the 2019 National Health Interview Survey, 18% of single mothers in Wyoming had not seen a doctor or other health professional in the past 12 months, compared to 8% of married mothers and 10% of all women in Wyoming. The national averages for not seeing a doctor or other health professional in the past 12 months were 15% for single mothers, 9% for married mothers, and 11% for all women.
According to the 2019 National Health Interview Survey, 14% of single mothers in Wyoming had not had a dental visit in the past year, compared to 7% of married mothers and 9% of all women in Wyoming. The national averages for not having a dental visit in the past year were 13% for single mothers, 8% for married mothers, and 10% for all women.
Expenses
The expenses of single mothers in Wyoming were higher than their income and the national averages for both groups. According to the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average annual expenditure of single mother consumer units in Wyoming was $40,800, compared to $32,500 for their average annual income . The national averages for average annual expenditure and income of single mother consumer units were $41,900 and $35,800, respectively .
The largest expense category for single mother consumer units in Wyoming was housing, which accounted for 36% of their total expenditure, followed by transportation (17%), food (14%), and health care (8%). The national averages for these expense categories were 35%, 16%, 14%, and 7%, respectively.
Conclusion
Single mothers in Wyoming are a small but diverse group of women who face many challenges and disparities in their lives. They have lower levels of education, employment, income, and civic engagement than married mothers and the national averages for both groups. They also have higher rates of poverty, food insecurity, financial instability, housing cost burden, disability, and lack of health care access and utilization than married mothers and the national averages for both groups. They have different family structures, childcare arrangements, and transportation modes than married mothers and the national averages for both groups. They have similar or higher levels of racial diversity, place of birth, language spoken at home, veteran status, and expenses than married mothers and the national averages for both groups.
Single mothers in Wyoming need more support and resources to improve their well-being and that of their children. Some possible policy interventions include expanding Medicaid eligibility, increasing the minimum wage, providing affordable housing options, subsidizing childcare costs, enhancing public transportation systems, promoting educational opportunities, creating job training programs, ensuring food security programs, offering financial literacy education, providing mental health services, and facilitating civic participation. These interventions could help reduce the gaps and barriers that single mothers face and empower them to achieve their full potential.
Resources:
- [U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022]
- [U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2022 Annual Social and Economic Supplement]
- [U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020 1-Year Estimates]
- [U.S. Census Bureau, America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2020]
- [U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States in 2019]
- [U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program Participation, 2019 Panel Wave 2]
- [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2019]
- [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Interview Survey, 2019]