Census Bureau Facts for Features A product of the U.S. Census Bureau's Public Information Office CB99-FF.11 September 1, 1999 Grandparents Day 1999: September 12 To commemorate Grandparents Day, the Census Bureau presents data on grandparents who reside with their grandchildren. Unless otherwise indicated, the statistics pertain to 1997. - Nearly 4.7 million of the nation's grandparents lived with their grandchildren. Four-fifths (79 percent) of these grandparents maintained the household in which the grandchildren lived. The remaining grandparents lived in households maintained by their own children the parents of the grandchildren. - All told, 2.9 million grandmothers lived with their grandchildren: 2.3 million in homes they maintained and 636,000 in homes maintained by their sons or daughters. Some 1.7 million grandfathers resided with their grandchildren: 1.4 million in homes they maintained and 344,000 in homes maintained by their sons or daughters. - These grandparents lived with 5.4 million children, or 8 percent of all children in the United States. Of these children, 3.9 million lived in homes maintained by their grandparents and 1.5 million lived in homes maintained by their parents. The number of children residing in homes maintained by grandparents represents an increase of 641,000 since 1992 and 1.6 million since 1980. - The following chart compares the characteristics of two different types of grandparents who live with their grandchildren: those who maintained their own homes and those residing in homes maintained by their sons or daughters. Grandparents who maintained Grandparents in homes maintained their own homes by their son or daughter Only 15 percent of the grandmothers Fifty percent of grandmothers and 21 percent of the grandfathers and 56 percent of the grandfathers were 65 or older. were 65 or older. A majority of both grandfathers Only 33 percent of the grandfathers (72 percent) and grandmothers 4 percent of the grandmothers were (56 percent) were employed in 1996. employed in 1996. About 36 percent of both grandmothers About 27 percent of both grandmothers and grandfathers were in "excellent" and grandfathers were in "excellent" or "very good" health. or "very good" health. Among single grandmothers, 1 in 4 was Among single grandmothers, 1 in 4 was poor if a parent or parents of the poor if only one parent of the grandchildren were present and about grandchildren was present. However, 6 in 10 were poor if no parent was only 1 in 20 were in poverty if the present. home was maintained by both parents of the grandchildren. The majority of grandmothers (56 percent) and grandfathers A minority of grandmothers (21 percent) (90 percent) were married and living and grandfathers (38 percent) were with their spouse. married and living with their spouse. Further information on this subject is available on the Internet at: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-115.html The preceding facts come from the Current Population Survey. The data are subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Previous 1999 Facts for Features: African American History Month (February), Valentine's Day (February 14), Women's History Month (March), Countdown to Census 2000 (April 1), Secretaries' Day (April 21), Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month (May), Mother's Day (May 9), Father's Day (June 20), the Fourth of July and Back to School (August). Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office (Tel: 301-457-3030; Fax: 301-457-3670; E-mail: pio@census.gov).
