---
title: "Key Shareable Findings"
description: "The number of fathers who stay at home with their children has increased, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of government data. Here are some of the report’s highlights, edited down to tweet length, with links and relevant charts included. This report was written by @DrGMLivingston and edited by @kim_c_parker. How many stay-at-home fathers are there? How do […]"
date: "2014-06-05"
authors:
  - name: "Gretchen Livingston"
    job_title: "Former Senior Researcher"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/gretchen-livingston/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2014/06/05/stay-at-home-fathers-tweet-sheet/"
---

# Key Shareable Findings

[![FT_14.06.05_StayHomeDadsCards_1](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/FT_14.06.05_StayHomeDadsCards_1.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/FT_14.06.05_StayHomeDadsCards_1.png)

The number of fathers who stay at home with their children has increased, according to a [Pew Research Center analysis of government data](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2014/06/05/growing-number-of-dads-home-with-the-kids/). Here are some of the report's highlights, edited down to tweet length, with links and relevant charts included. This report was written by [@DrGMLivingston](https://twitter.com/DrGMLivingston) and edited by [@kim_c_parker](https://twitter.com/kim_c_parker).

**How many stay-at-home fathers are there?**

- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="The number of fathers who stay at home with their children has nearly doubled since 1989 pic.twitter.com/kni0JhCWtN #SAHD"]The number of fathers who stay at home with their children has nearly doubled since 1989[/tweetable]
- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="There were 1.1 million stay-at-home fathers in 1989; now the number is 2 million pic.twitter.com/kni0JhCWtN #SAHD"]There were 1.1 million stay-at-home fathers in 1989; now the number is 2 million[/tweetable]

**How do their numbers compare to stay-at-home mothers?**

- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="Most stay-at-home parents are mothers, but fathers represent a growing share: 16%, up from 10% in 1989 #SAHD"]Most stay-at-home parents are mothers, but fathers represent a growing share: 16%, up from 10% in 1989[/tweetable]
- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="Among all stay-at-home parents in the U.S., 16% are fathers and 84% are mothers pic.twitter.com/Bk5Z83D5Az #SAHD"]Among all stay-at-home parents in the U.S., 16% are fathers, and 84% are mothers[/tweetable]

[![FT_14.06.05_StayHomeDadsCards_2](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/FT_14.06.05_StayHomeDadsCards_21.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/FT_14.06.05_StayHomeDadsCards_21.png)

**Why are fathers staying at home?**

- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="21% of stay-at-home dads say they're at home to care for family, up from 5% in 1989 pic.twitter.com/lNYsdJaaeP #SAHD"]21% of stay-at-home dads say they're at home to care for family, up from 5% in 1989[/tweetable]
- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="Reasons dads stay at home: 23% can't find a job, 21% to care for home or family, 35% due to illness, disability #SAHD"]Reasons dads stay at home: 23% can't find a job, 21% to care for home or family, 35% due to illness, disability[/tweetable]
- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="Biggest share (35%) of stay-at-home fathers are at home due to illness or disability pic.twitter.com/R8eH5i42io #SAHD"]Biggest share (35%) of stay-at-home fathers are at home due to illness or disability[/tweetable]

**Who are stay-at-home fathers demographically?**

- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="On average, stay-at-home fathers worse off financially, less educated than working dads #SAHD"]On average, stay-at-home fathers worse off financially, less educated than working dads[/tweetable]
- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="47% of stay-at-home fathers are living in poverty vs. 8% of working fathers #SAHD"]47% of stay-at-home fathers are living in poverty vs. 8% of working fathers[/tweetable]
- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="52% of stay-at-home fathers are white, 20% are Hispanic and 16% are black #SAHD"]52% of stay-at-home fathers are white, 20% are Hispanic and 16% are black[/tweetable]

**What does the public think about fathers staying at home?**

- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="51% say kids better off if mother is at home; just 8% say better off if dad is at home pic.twitter.com/5yvduEcAdf #SAHD"]51% say kids better off if mother is at home; just 8% say better off if dad is at home[/tweetable]
- [tweetable url="http://pewrsr.ch/1x7KBy5" alt="34% say children just as well off if mother works; 76% say the same of fathers pic.twitter.com/5yvduEcAdf #SAHD"]34% say children just as well off if mother works; 76% say the same of fathers[/tweetable]