http://www.now.org/issues/mothers/facts.html Fast Facts: Mothers in the United States
Estimated number of mothers of all ages in the United States: 80.5 million
Percentage of women 40 to 44 years old who are mothers: 81%
Approximate number of women who give birth each year in the United States: 4 million. Of this number, about 415,000 are age 15 to 19, and more than 100,000 new moms are age 40 or older.
Average age of women when they give birth for the first time: 25.2 (a record high)
Average number of children that U.S. women today can expect to have in their lifetime: 2.0
Number of stay-at-home moms, in 2004: 5.6 million
Number of stay-at-home dads: 143,000
Among mothers of infants, percentage in the labor force: 55%
The percentage of women who gave birth to their first child and returned to work within four months: 51%
Percentage of mothers, ages 15 to 44, whose oldest child is age 3-5, in the labor force: 67%
Percentage of mothers, with children age 5 and under, employed full-time, year round: 33%
Percentage of mothers, ages 15 to 44, whose youngest child is 12 or older, in the labor force: 80%
Number of single mothers living with children under 18: 10 million
Fast Facts: Caregivers in the United States
Selected characteristics of "informal" or "family" caregivers, unpaid caregivers who care for elderly or disabled adults in their families or communities
Women and men, age 18 and older, who provide unpaid care to an adult age 18 or older: 44.4 million
Percentage of caregivers who care for family members: 83%
Percentage of caregivers who either work or have worked while providing care: 59%
Percentage of employed caregivers who say they've had to make some adjustments to their work life, from reporting late to work to giving up work entirely: 62%
Number of informal caregivers who are the primary caregiver of the person they care for: 71%
Number of caregivers who report they are the only person providing unpaid care to the person they care for: 37%
Estimated percentage of informal caregivers who are women: 69% - 75%
Although men also provide care, female caregivers may spend as much as 50% more time providing care than male caregivers and are less likely to be employed full time.
Estimated value the informal care women provide, annually: $148 to $188 billion
Percentage of women caregivers who report experiencing emotional stress due to their care giving role: 40%
Percentage of male caregivers who do: 26%
Young caregivers: Nationwide, approximately 1.3 to 1.4 million informal caregivers are between the ages of 8 and 18. 70% of young caregivers are caring for a parent or grandparent.
Caregivers most frequently reported unmet needs: finding time for myself (35%), managing emotional and physical stress (29%), and balancing work and family responsibilities (29%).
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau; CDC National Center Health Statistics; Institute for Women's Policy Research; National Alliance for Caregiving; Family Caregiver Alliance.