Census Bureau Facts for Features
A product of the U.S. Census Bureau's Public Information Office
CB00-FF.10 August 30, 2000 Grandparents Day 2000: September 10 To mark the celebration of Grandparents Day, the Census Bureau has culled from its statistical reports the following data on grandparents. (Unless otherwise indicated, the statistics are for 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 remainder 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. - About 5.4 million children nationwide lived with their grandparents; these children comprised 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 increases 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 their own homes maintained by their son or daughter Only 21 percent of the grandfathers and Fifty-six percent of the 15 percent of the grandmothers were 65 grandfathers and 50 percent or older. of grandmothers were 65 or older. A majority of both grandfathers Only 33 percent of the (72 percent) and grandmothers grandfathers and 24 percent (56 percent) were employed in 1996. of the grandmothers were employed in 1996. About 36 percent of both grandfathers About 27 percent of both and grandmothers were in "excellent" grandfathers and grandmothers or "very good" health. were in "excellent" or "very good" health. The majority of grandfathers A minority of grandfathers (90 percent) and grandmothers (38 percent) and grandmothers (56 percent) were married and (21 percent) were married and living with their spouse. 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 Census Bureau Facts for Features this year: African American History Month (February), Valentine's Day (February 14), Women's History Month (March), Census Day, 2000 (April 1), Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May), Mother's Day (May 14), Father's Day (June 18), 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.
