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

1. Marriage:
Oklahoma’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 Oklahoma, 1929–2010
Throughout most of Oklahoma’s PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
history, out-of-wedlock childbear-
ing was rare. 50%
In 1968, shortly after the federal
Oklahoma 41.8%
government began the War on
Poverty, only 8.3 percent of chil- 40% 40.8%
dren in Oklahoma were born National
outside marriage. However, over
the next four decades, the number
rose rapidly. By 2010, 58.2 percent 30%
of births in Oklahoma occurred
outside of marriage.
Oklahoma
Note: Data on non-marital births in 20% National
Oklahoma are unavailable between
1948 and 1967. However, all states that
do have data for this period show a
rapid growth in non-marital childbear- 10%
ing from the mid-1960s on.The Okla-
homa trend during this period
undoubtedly parallels the national trend
shown in the chart.
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 Oklahoma heritage.org

3. In Oklahoma, Marriage Drops the Probability of Child Poverty
by 80 Percent
The rapid rise in out-of-wedlock PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE POOR
childbearing is a major cause of 50%
high levels of child poverty in
44.7%
Oklahoma.
Some 44.7 percent of single
40%
mothers with children are poor
compared to 8.8 percent of mar-
ried couples with children.
Single-parent families with 30%
children are more than five times
more likely to be poor than fami-
lies in which the parents are mar- 20%
ried.
The higher poverty rate among
single-mother families is due both 8.8%
10%
to the lower education levels of
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 2 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

4. Over One-Third of All Families with Children in Oklahoma
Are Not Married
Overall, married couples head
about two-thirds of families with
children in Oklahoma. Well over
one-third are single-parent
families.
Unmarried
Families
34.3%
Married
Families
65.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 3 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

5. In Oklahoma, 70 Percent of Poor Families with Children
Are Not Married
Among poor families with
children in Oklahoma, seven in
ten are not married. By contrast,
only 30.3 percent of poor families
with children are headed by Married
married couples. Families
30.3%
Unmarried
Families
69.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 4 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

6. In Oklahoma, Few Unwed Births Occur to Teenagers
Out-of-wedlock births are often PERCENTAGE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS
confused erroneously with teen BY AGE OF MOTHER
births, but only 9.5 percent of
out-of-wedlock births in Okla- Under
homa occur to girls under age 18. Age 18:
By contrast, some 78 percent of 9.5%
out-of-wedlock births occur to
Age
young adult women between the 30–54:
ages of 18 and 29. 12.2% Age
18–19:
17.3%
Age
25–29:
21%
Age
20–24:
40%
Note: Figures have been rounded.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS
data.
Chart 5 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

7. Less Educated Women Are More Likely to Give Birth
Outside of Marriage
Unwed childbearing occurs PERCENTAGE OF BIRTHS THAT ARE MARITAL
most frequently among the OR OUT OF WEDLOCK
women who will have the greatest 100%
difficulty supporting children by 8.1% Unmarried
themselves: those with low levels 90%
Mothers
of education. 42.0%
80%
In the U.S., among women who
54.5%
are high school dropouts, about 70% Married
65.2 percent of all births occur 65.2% 91.8%
Mothers
outside marriage. Among women 60%
who have only a high school
diploma, well over half of all births 50%
occur outside marriage. By con- 40%
trast, among women with at least a 580%
college degree, only 8.1 percent of 30%
births are out of wedlock. 45.5%
20%
Note: Specific data on out-of-wedlock
births and maternal education are not 34.8%
10%
available in Oklahoma. However, the
pattern varies little between states. 0%
Oklahoma data will be very similar to
the 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 Years) Years) Years) Years)
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS data.
Chart 6 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

8. Both Marriage and Education Are Highly Effective in Reducing Child
Poverty in Oklahoma
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- 61.0%
60%
ents with the same education level.
For example, in Oklahoma, the 50% 47.9%
poverty rate for a single mother
who has only a high school 40%
35.9%
diploma is 47.9 percent, but the
poverty rate for a married couple 30% 27.6%
family headed by an individual
who, similarly, has only a high 20%
school degree is far lower at
10.6% 11.3%
10.6 percent. 10% 7.9%
On average, marriage drops the 2.0%
poverty rate by around 80 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 7 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

9. Unwed Birth Rates Vary Strongly by Race in Oklahoma
Out-of-wedlock childbearing PERCENT OF BIRTHS THAT ARE OUT OF WEDLOCK
varies considerably by race.
80% 75.7%
In 2008 (the most recent year
for which racial breakdown is 8.3%
available), more than one in four 70%
births (42.3 percent) in Oklahoma
occurred outside marriage. The 60% 57.3%
rate was lowest among non-
Hispanic whites at over one in 49%
50%
three births (34.4 percent). Among 42.3%
Hispanics, nearly half of births
were out of wedlock. Among 40%
34.4%
American Indians, nearly six in
ten (57.3 percent) births were out 30%
of wedlock. Among blacks, three
in four births were to unmarried
20%
women (75.7 percent).
10%
0%
Source: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Disease All Races White Hispanic American Black
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS Non- Indian Non-
data. Hispanic Hispanic
Chart 8 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

10. Growth of Unwed Childbearing by Race in Oklahoma, 1935–2008
Historically, out-of-wedlock PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
childbearing has been somewhat
80% Oklahoma–
more frequent among blacks than Black 75.7%
among whites. However, prior to
the onset of the federal 70% National–
government’s War on Poverty in Black 72.3%
the 1960s, the rates for both
60%
whites and blacks were compara-
tively low.
In 1968, 5.3 percent of white 50%
children in Oklahoma were born
outside marriage. By 2008, the 40% Oklahoma–
number had risen to more than White 34.4%
one in three (34.4 percent).
30% National–
In 1970, about one-third (34.6 White 28.6%
percent) of black children in Okla-
20%
homa were born outside marriage.
By 2008, the number had risen to
about seven in every ten (70.2 10%
percent).
0%
Sources: U.S. Government, U.S. Census 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008
Bureau, and National Center for Health
Statistics.
Chart 9 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

11. Racial Composition of All Births and Out-of-Wedlock Births
in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma in 2008, some 64.2 ALL BIRTHS OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS
percent of all births occurred to
non-Hispanic whites, 12.9 percent
occurred to Hispanics, 11.5 percent
occurred to American Indians, and
9.1 percent occurred to non-Hispanic
blacks.
Because blacks, Hispanics, and 64.2% White Non- 52.2%
American Indians are more likely to Hispanic
have children without being married,
they account for disproportionately
larger shares of all out-of-wedlock
births. Even so, the largest number of
unwed births were to white non-
Hispanic women. 15%
In Oklahoma in 2008, 52.2 percent American
of all non-marital births were to 12.9% Indian
non-Hispanic whites, 16.2 percent 15.6%
were to black non-Hispanic women,
Hispanic
15.6 percent were to American 11.5%
Indians, and 15 percent were to
Hispanic women. Black Non- 16.2%
9.1% Hispanic
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Asian/Other
2.3% 1%
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS data Note: Figures have been rounded.
Chart 10 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

12. Non-Married White Families Are Seven Times More Likely to Be Poor
in Oklahoma
Marriage leads to lower poverty PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
rates for whites, blacks, American
Indians, and Hispanics. 29.8%
30%
For example, in 2009, the pov-
erty rate for married white families
in Oklahoma was 4.5 percent. But 25%
the poverty rate for non-married
white families was nearly seven
times higher at 29.8 percent. 20%
15%
10%
4.5%
5%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 11 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

13. Non-Married Black Families Are Nearly Six Times More Likely
to Be Poor in Oklahoma
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
married black couples in Okla-
homa was 7.8 percent, while the
50%
poverty rate for non-married black
families was nearly six times 43.4%
higher at 43.4 percent.
40%
30%
20%
7.8%
10%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 12 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

14. Non-Married Hispanic Families Are Three Times More Likely to Be Poor
in Oklahoma
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
Hispanic married families in Okla-
homa was 18.3 percent, while the
60% 55.5%
poverty rate among non-married
families was more than three times
higher at 55.5 percent. 50%
40%
30%
18.3%
20%
10%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 13 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma heritage.org

15. Non-Married American Indian Families Are Four Times More Likely
to Be Poor in Oklahoma
In 2009, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
American Indian married families
in Oklahoma was 9 percent, while 38.5%
40%
the poverty rate among non-
married families was more than
four times higher at 38.5 percent. 35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
9%
5%
0%
Married Families Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.
Chart 14 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma 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.

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