Good News: The Rate of Unmarried Young Fatherhood is Going Down

For men under 44,

In the 1980s, 42% of first-time fathers were not married.

In the 1990s, 40% of first-time fathers were not married.

In the 2000s, 34% of first-time fathers were not married.

The big gains came from improvements among black fathers, whose unmarried fatherhood rate dropped from 77% in the '80s to 66% in the '00s.

Moreover, more unmarried fathers are at least living with the mothers of their children.