158,000 At-Home Dads (2009 U.S. Census) 140,000 At-Home Dads (2008 U.S. Census) 165,000 At-Home Dads (2007 U.S. Census) 159,000 At-Home Dads (2006 U.S. Census) 143,000 At-Home Dads (2005 U.S. Census) 147,000 At-Home Dads (2004 U.S. Census) 98,000 At-Home Dads (2003 U.S. Census) 106,000 At-Home Dads (2002 U.S. Census) 81,000 At-Home Dads (2001 U.S. Census) 93,000 At-Home Dads (2000 U.S. Census) (To review these Census numbers go to Families and Living Arrangements and look for table FG8 in the detailed tables)
These numbers are misleading The Census only counts a father as an at-home dad if he has not earned any income or looked for work in the past year, but many at-home dads earn some income at a part-time job or work from home. The Census also excludes gay fathers and those too embarrassed to report they are at-home dads by claiming to be looking for work or being part-time students.
Perhaps a more accurate number is the U.S. Census report on Childcare Arrangements in which 25% of the 11.3 Million U.S. children under 5 are being cared for by their FATHER while mom is at work. If we assume that each of these fathers is caring for, on average, 2 children, then the true number is about:
1.5 MILLION At-Home Dads
Take a look at some of these other numbers and trends about at-home dads:
