Marriage is America's #1 weapon against childhood poverty. This presentation details the impact of marriage on the probability of child poverty in North Carolina.

1. Marriage:
North Carolina’s No. 1
Weapon Against
Childhood Poverty
How the Collapse of Marriage Hurts Children
and Three Steps to Reverse the Damage
A Heritage Foundation Book of Charts • January 2012
Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society

2. Growth of Out-of-Wedlock Childbearing in North Carolina, 1929–2010
Throughout most of North PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
Carolina’s history, out-of-wedlock
childbearing was rare. 50%
When the federal government’s
War on Poverty began in 1964, 42.0%
only 10.3 percent of children in 40%
North Carolina were born out of
wedlock. However, over the next
four decades, the number rose
rapidly. By 2010, 42 percent of 30%
births in North Carolina occurred
outside of marriage.
20%
Note: Initiated by President Lyndon
Johnson in 1964, the War on Poverty
led to the creation of more than three 10%
dozen welfare programs to aid poor
persons. Government has spent $16.7
trillion on means-tested aid to the poor
since 1964.
0%
Sources: U.S. Government, U.S. Census
Bureau, and National Center for Health 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Statistics.
Chart 1 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

3. Death of Marriage in North Carolina, 1929–2010
The marital birth rate — the PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN TO MARRIED COUPLES
percentage of all births that occur
to married parents — is the flip 100%
side of the out-of-wedlock birth
rate.
Through most of the 20th cen- 90%
tury, marital births were the norm
in North Carolina. In 1964, nearly
90 percent of births occurred to
married couples. 80%
However, in the mid-1960s, the
marital birth rate began to fall
steadily. By 2010, only 58 percent
70%
of births in North Carolina
occurred to married couples.
60%
Note: In any given year, the sum of the 58.0%
out-of-wedlock birth rate (Chart 1)
and the marital birth rate (Chart 2)
equals 100 percent of all births.
50%
Sources: U.S. Government, U.S. Census
Bureau, and National Center for Health 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Statistics.
Chart 2 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

4. In North Carolina, Marriage Drops the Probability of Child Poverty
by 82 Percent
The rapid rise in out-of- PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE POOR
wedlock childbearing is a major 50%
cause of high levels of child pov-
erty in North Carolina.
Some 40.6 percent of single 40.6%
40%
mothers with children are poor
compared to 7.2 percent of mar-
ried couples with children.
Single-parent families with 30%
children are nearly six times more
likely to be poor than families in
which the parents are married. 20%
The higher poverty rate among
single-mother families is due both
to the lower education levels of
10% 7.2%
the mothers and the lower income
due to the absence of the father.
0%
Single-Parent, Married,Two-Parent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Female-Headed Families
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data. Families
Chart 3 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

5. In North Carolina, One-Third of All Families with Children
Are Not Married
Overall, married couples head
about two-thirds of families with
children in North Carolina. Over
one-third are single-parent
families.
Unmarried
Families
35.3%
Married
Families
64.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 4 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

6. In North Carolina, 74 Percent of Poor Families with Children
Are Not Married
Among poor families with
children in North Carolina, about
three-quarters are not married. By
contrast, one-quarter of poor
families with children are headed
by married couples. Married
Families
26.5%
Unmarried
Families
73.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 5 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

7. In North Carolina, Few Unwed Births Occur to Teenagers
Out-of-wedlock births are PERCENTAGE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS
often confused erroneously with BY AGE OF MOTHER
teen births, but only 8.4 percent
of out-of-wedlock births in Under
North Carolina occur to girls Age 18:
under age 18. 8.4%
By contrast, some 76 percent Age
of out-of-wedlock births occur to 30–54:
young adult women between the 16.0%
ages of 18 and 29. Age
18–19:
15.5%
Age
25–29:
22.3%
Age
20–24:
37.8%
Note: Figures have been rounded.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS
data.
Chart 6 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

8. Less-Educated Women Are More Likely to Give Birth
Outside of Marriage
Unwed childbearing occurs most PERCENTAGE OF BIRTHS THAT ARE MARITAL
frequently among the women who OR OUT OF WEDLOCK
will have the greatest difficulty 100%
supporting children by themselves: 8.1% Unmarried
those with low levels of education. 90%
Mothers
In the U.S., among women who 42.0%
80%
are high school dropouts, about
65.2 percent of all births occur
54.5%
70%
outside marriage. Among women 65.2%
who have only a high school 60% Married
diploma, well over half of all births 91.9%
50% Mothers
occur outside marriage. By contrast,
among women with at least a
40%
college degree, only 8.1 percent of 58.0%
births are out of wedlock. 30%
45.5%
20%
Note: Specific data on out-of-wedlock 34.8%
births and maternal education are not 10%
available in North Carolina. However, the
pattern varies little between states. North
Carolina data will be very similar to the 0%
national data presented in this chart. High School High School Some College Mother’s
Dropout Graduate College Graduate education
Source: U.S. Department of Health and (0–11 (12 (13–15 (16+ level
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS data. Years) Years) Years) Years)
Chart 7 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

9. Both Marriage and Education Are Highly Effective
in Reducing Child Poverty in North Carolina
The poverty rate of married PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES Poverty Rate of Families by
couples with children is dramati- WITH CHILDREN THAT Single
Education and Marital Status
cally lower than the rate for house- ARE POOR Married
of the Head of Household
holds headed by single parents. 70%
This is true even when the married
couple is compared to single par- 61.2%
60%
ents with the same education level.
For example, in North Carolina, 50%
the poverty rate for a single 42.6%
mother who has only a high 40%
school diploma is 42.6 percent, 33.2%
but the poverty rate for a married 30% 26.5%
couple family headed by an indi-
vidual who, similarly, has only a 20%
high school degree is far lower at 11.8%
9.5 percent. 10% 9.5%
5.3%
On average, marriage drops the 1.5%
poverty rate by about 76 percent 0%
among families with the same High School High School Some College
education level. Dropout Graduate College Graduate
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Note: Virtually none of the heads of families in the chart who are high school
Community Survey, 2005–2009 data. dropouts are minor teenagers.
Chart 8 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

10. Unwed Birth Rates Vary Strongly by Race in North Carolina
Out-of-wedlock childbearing PERCENT OF BIRTHS THAT ARE OUT OF WEDLOCK
varies considerably by race.
In 2008, 42 percent of births in 100%
North Carolina occurred outside 8.3%
90%
marriage. The rate was lowest
among non-Hispanic whites at 80%
about one in four births (26.7 72.4%
percent). Among Hispanics, over 70%
half of all births were out of wed-
lock. Among blacks, more than 60%
seven in ten births (72.4 percent) 53.2%
were to unmarried women. 50%
42.0%
40%
30% 26.7%
20%
10%
Source: U.S. Department of Health and 0%
Human Services, Centers for Disease All Races White Hispanic Black
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS Non- Non-
data. Hispanic Hispanic
Chart 9 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

11. Growth of Unwed Childbearing by Race in North Carolina, 1929–2008
Historically, out-of-wedlock PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
childbearing has been somewhat
more frequent among blacks than 100%
among whites. However, prior to
90%
the onset of the federal
government’s War on Poverty in
80% Black Non-
1964, the rates for both whites
and blacks were comparatively Hispanic
low.
70% 72.4%
In 1964, around one in forty 60%
(2.7 percent) white children were Hispanic
born outside marriage. By 2008, 50% 53.2%
the number had risen to one in
four (26.7 percent). 40%
In 1964, about one in four black White Non-
30%
children (26.7 percent) were born Hispanic
outside marriage. By 2008, the 26.7%
20%
number had risen to more than
seven in ten (72.4 percent). 10%
0%
Sources: U.S. Government, U.S. Census
Bureau, and National Center for Health 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008
Statistics.
Chart 10 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

12. Racial Composition of All Births and Out-of-Wedlock Births
in North Carolina
ALL BIRTHS OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS
In North Carolina in 2008,
some 55.1 percent of all births
occurred to non-Hispanic whites,
23.8 percent occurred to non-
Hispanic blacks, and 16.5 percent
occurred to Hispanics. 35.0%
55.1% White Non-
Because blacks and Hispanics
Hispanic
are more likely to have children
without being married, they
account for a disproportionately
large share of all out-of-wedlock
births.
In North Carolina in 2008, 41 41.0%
percent of all non-marital births Black Non-
were to non-Hispanic black 23.8% Hispanic
women, 35 percent were to white
non-Hispanic women, and 20.9
percent were to Hispanics.
16.5% Hispanic 20.9%
Source: U.S. Department of Health and 4.6% Asian/Other 3.1%
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS
data. Note: Figures have been rounded.
Chart 11 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

13. Non-Married White Families Are Seven Times More Likely to Be Poor
in North Carolina
Marriage leads to lower poverty PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
rates for whites, blacks, and His-
panics.
30%
For example, in 2009, the pov-
erty rate for married white families 24.9%
in North Carolina was 3.6 percent. 25%
But the poverty rate for non-
married white families was seven
times higher at 24.9 percent. 20%
15%
10%
5% 3.6%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 12 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

14. Non-Married Black Families Are Six Times More Likely to Be Poor
in North Carolina
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
married black couples in North
Carolina was 6.9 percent, while
40% 38.0%
the poverty rate for non-married
black families was nearly six times
higher at 38 percent. 35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
6.9%
5%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 13 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

15. Non-Married Hispanic Families Are More than Twice as Likely
to Be Poor in North Carolina
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
Hispanic married families in North
Carolina was 20.7 percent, while
60%
the poverty rate among non-
married families was more than
twice as high at 44.8 percent. 50%
44.8%
40%
30%
20.7%
20%
10%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 14 • Marriage and Poverty in North Carolina heritage.org

16. Three Steps to Reduce Child Poverty through Marriage
1) Provide information on the benefits of marriage in reducing child poverty
and improving child well-being.
Marriage is a highly effective institution which greatly decreases parental and child
poverty while improving long-term outcomes for children. Conversely, the absence of
marriage greatly increases welfare costs and imposes added burdens on taxpayers.
Unfortunately, almost no information on these topics is available in low-income
communities. This information deficit should be corrected in the following manner:
• Explain the benefits of marriage in middle and high schools with a high
proportion of at-risk youth;
• Create public education campaigns in low-income communities on the
benefits of marriage; and,
• Require federally funded birth control clinics to provide information on the
benefits of marriage and the skills needed to develop stable families to
interested low-income clients.
2) Reduce anti-marriage penalties in means-tested welfare programs.
3) Promote life-goal-planning, marriage-strengthening, and divorce-reduction
programs to increase healthy marriages and reduce divorce and separation.

17. The Family & Religion Initiative is one of 10 Transformational Initiatives making up The Heritage
Foundation’s Leadership for America campaign. For more products and information related to this initiative
or to learn more about the Leadership for America campaign, please visit heritage.org.
The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to
formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited gov-
ernment, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
Our vision is to build an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish. As
conservatives, we believe the values and ideas that motivated our Founding Fathers are worth conserving.
As policy entrepreneurs, we believe the most effective solutions are consistent with those ideas and values.
214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE • Washington, D.C. 20002 • (202) 546-4400 • heritage.org