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What do you think is the ideal number of children for a family to have? % 0-2 % 3+ 1936 34 64 1941 32 68 1945 23 77 1947 27 67 1953 29 71 1957 20 71 1962 17 70 1965 19 65 1966 19 61 1967 23 70 1971 39 52 1973 48 43 1974 49 41 1977 54 36 1978 53 39 1980 57 35 1983 60 35 1985 62 32 1986 66 28 1987 60 34 1990 63 29 1996 62 32 1997 50 42 2001 52 38 2003 55 37 2004 53 38 2007 56 34 2011 58 33 2013 53 38 2018 50 41 2023 49 45 2025 46 42
Thinking about your oldest child, when he or she is at school, do you fear for his or her physical safety? % Yes, fear 1998 Jun 37 1999 Apr 55 1999 Apr 49 1999 May 52 1999 Aug 47 2000 Apr 43 2000 Aug 26 2001 Mar 45 2001 Aug 32 2002 Aug 31 2003 Aug 24 2004 Aug 28 2005 Aug 21 2006 Aug 25 2006 Oct 35 2007 Aug 24 2008 Aug 15 2009 Mar 26 2012 Aug 25 2012 Dec 33 2013 Aug 33 2014 Aug 27 2015 Aug 29 2016 Aug 28 2017 Aug 24 2018 Aug 35 2019 Aug 34 2022 Aug 44 2023 Aug 38 2024 Aug 44 2025 Aug 41
Children > Children Ideal Number Table 0 1 2 3 4+ No opinion Mean % % % % % % 2025 2 4 40 27 15 12 2.7 2023 2 3 44 29 16 6 2.7 2018 1 3 47 26 15 9 2.7 2013 2 3 48 25 13 10 2.6 2011 1 4 53 23 10 9 2.5 2007 1 3 52 25 9 9 2.5 2004 1 3 49 26 12 9 2.6 2003 1 2 52 26 11 8 2.5 2001 1 2 49 27 11 11 2.6 1997 2 2 46 29 13 8 2.6 1996 2 3 57 21 11 6 2.4 1990 3 3 57 18 11 8 2.4 1987 1 3 56 22 12 6 2.6 1986 2 5 59 17 11 6 2.5 1985 2 4 56 21 11 6 2.5 1983 3 3 54 21 14 5 2.6 1980 3 2 55 20 12 8 2.5 1980 1 3 51 21 16 8 2.7 1978 2 2 49 23 16 8 2.6 1977 2 2 50 22 14 10 2.6 1974 1 2 46 22 19 10 2.8 1973 1 1 46 23 20 9 2.8 1971 * 1 38 28 24 10 2.9 1967 * * 23 30 40 7 3.4 1966 * 1 18 27 34 20 3.3 1965 * 1 18 28 37 16 3.4 1962 * 1 16 24 46 13 3.3 1957 1 1 18 34 37 9 3.6 1953 * 1 28 30 41 * 3.3 1947 * 1 26 26 41 6 3.4 1945 * 1 22 28 49 * 3.3 1941 * 1 31 27 41 * 3.3 1936 * 2 32 32 32 * 3.6
Children > Education Fear Physical Safety Table Yes, fear No, do not No opinion % % % 2025 Aug 1-20 41 58 1 2024 Aug 1-20 44 56 1 2023 Aug 1-23 38 62 * 2022 Aug 1-23 44 56 * 2019 Aug 1-14 34 66 * 2018 Aug 1-12 35 65 * 2017 Aug 2-6 24 76 * 2016 Aug 3-7 28 72 * 2015 Aug 5-9 29 71 * 2014 Aug 7-10 27 72 1 2013 Aug 7-11 33 67 1 2012 Dec 19-22 33 67 1 2012 Aug 9-12 25 74 1 2009 Mar 27-29 26 74 * 2008 Aug 7-10 15 85 * 2007 Aug 13-16 24 76 * 2006 Oct 6-8 35 65 * 2006 Aug 7-10 25 75 * 2005 Aug 8-11 21 79 * 2004 Aug 9-11 28 71 1 2003 Aug 4-6 24 76 * 2002 Aug 5-8 31 68 1 2001 Aug 16-19 32 68 0 2001 Mar 9-11 45 54 1 2000 Aug 24-27 26 74 0 2000 Apr 7-9 43 57 0 1999 Aug 24-26 47 53 * 1999 May 21-23 52 47 1 1999 Apr 26-27 49 51 * 1999 Apr 21 55 45 0 1998 Jun 5-7 37 62 1 1977 24 70 6
Worry Feeling Unsafe School Table Yes No No opinion % % % 2025 Aug 1-20 15 84 1 2023 Aug 1-23 14 86 * 2022 Aug 1-23 20 80 -- 2019 Aug 1-14 12 88 -- 2018 Aug 1-12 20 79 1 2017 Aug 2-6 6 94 -- 2016 Aug 3-7 13 87 -- 2015 Aug 5-9 10 89 * 2014 Aug 7-10 8 92 -- 2013 Aug 7-11 10 89 1 2012 Aug 9-12 12 85 3 2009 Mar 27-29^ 10 90 -- 2008 Aug 7-10 8 91 1 2007 Aug 13-16 12 87 1 2006 Oct 6-8 ^ 12 88 -- 2007 Aug 7-10 11 87 2 2004 Aug 9-11 10 89 1 2003 Aug 4-6 8 91 1 2001 Mar 9-11 # 22 77 1 2000 Aug 24-27 8 92 * 1999 Aug 24-26 17 81 1
Children > Prefer Boy Girl Child Table Boy Girl Doesn't matter (vol.) Unsure/No opinion % % % % 2025 Jul 7-21 37 29 24 10 2018 Jun 1-13 36 28 28 7 2011 Jun 9-12 40 28 26 6 2007 Jun 11-14 37 28 26 9 2003 Jul 18-20 38 28 27 7 2000 Dec 2-4 42 27 25 6 1997 May 6-7 36 23 38 3 1997 Feb 24-26 41 29 25 5 1996 Feb 23-25 41 31 25 3 1990 Apr 19-22** 38 34 24 4 1947 Sep 12-17** 40 25 27 8 1941 Mar 21-26^ 38 24 23 15
Children > How Many Have Table None One Two Three Four Five or more No opinion % % % % % % % 2023 Jun-Jul 31 14 28 15 7 5 1 2018 Jun 1-13 30 14 26 17 6 6 1 2013 Aug 22-31 ^ 25 15 26 17 9 7 * 2003 Jul 18-20 28 15 25 15 10 6 1 1990 Apr 19-22 26 14 26 16 8 10 --
Children > Summary Have Want Table 2023 Jun-Jul 2018 Jun 1-13 2013 Aug 22-31 2003 Jul 18-20 1990 Apr 19-22 % % % % % Have children 69 69 74 72 73 Do not have but want to have children 15 17 16 16 17 Do not have children but would like to have had 6 5 3 6 3 Do not want children 8 8 5 4 4 No opinion 2 2 1 2 3
Children > Boy Girl Easier to Raise Table Boy Girl No difference (vol.) No opinion % % % % 2018 Jun 1-13 54 27 14 5 2000 Dec 2-4 53 28 14 5 1997 Feb 24-26 49 30 14 7 1996 Feb 23-25 51 29 12 8 1990 Apr 19-20 43 27 23 7 1947 Sep 12-17 42 24 24 10
Children > Approve Spanking Table Approve Disapprove No opinion % % % National adults 2016 Jun 14-23 64 35 2 1997 Feb 24-26 65 32 3 1990 Apr 19-22 65 25 10 1946 Aug 30-Sep 4 -- -- -- Parents 2016 Jun 14-23 62 38 * 1997 Feb 24-26 66 31 3 1990 Apr 19-22 -- -- -- 1946 Aug 30-Sep 4 74 24 2
Children > Nights Family Eats Dinner at Home Table 0-2 3 4 5 6 7 Other/No opinion % % % % % % % 2013 Dec 5-8 13 8 10 18 15 38 * 2005 Dec 5-8 12 8 13 15 17 35 * 2003 Dec 11-14 17 7 11 22 14 28 * 2001 Dec 6-9 14 8 10 19 12 38 * 1997 Feb 24-26 10 6 11 20 15 37 2
Children > Why Couples Have Fewer Children Table 2013 Aug 22-31 % Not enough money/Cost of raising child 65 The state of the economy/Jobs 11 Personal choice/No desire for children 6 Poor society/Living in difficult times/Difficult environment 5 Too selfish/Feel children interfere with personal freedom 4 Single-parent homes/Divorce/Lack of commitment to marriage 3 Lack of time/Too busy/Too time consuming 3 Too many women working/Both parents work/Career concerns 3 Children are hard work/Stressful 3 Unable to have children/Cannot conceive 2 Responsibilities involved/Too much responsibility 2 Wife or husband not in good health 1 Parents are older/Waited to have children 1 Cost of education 1 Too many children already/Concerned about overpopulation 1 Uncertainty about the future/Future is bleak 1 Just don't like children 1 Other 1 No opinion 6
Children > Ideal Age Woman Have First Child Table Under 21 21-24 25-29 30 or older No opinion Mean % % % % % 2013 Aug 22-31 9 23 48 15 6 25.3
Children > Ideal Age Man Have First Child Table Under 21 21-24 25-29 30 or older No opinion Mean % % % % % 2013 Aug 22-31 5 15 45 30 6 27
Children > Age When Had First Child Table Under 21 21-24 25-29 30 or older No opinion Mean % % % % % All parents 29 28 23 18 1 24.2 Mothers 37 28 20 13 1 23.1 Fathers 19 28 27 24 1 25.6
Children > Shootings Happen Local Community Table Very likely Somewhat likely Somewhat unlikely Very unlikely No opinion % % % % % Newtown, CT 2012 Dec 19-22 22 30 22 23 3 Red Lake, MN 2005 March 22 30 43 12 12 3 Littleton, CO 1999 April 21 20 38 14 15 3
Children > School Doing Enough Prevent Shootings Table Yes, is doing enough No, is not No opinion % % % 2012 Dec 19-22 56 34 10
Children > Unmarried Couple Effect on Child Table Positive effect No difference Negative effect No opinion % % % % 2008 Jul 25-27 12 47 38 3
Children > Problem Overweight in U.S. Table Extremely serious Very serious Moderately serious Not serious No opinion % % % % % 2006 Feb 9-12 26 41 29 3 1
Children > Should Parents Be Able to Select Genetic Traits Table Should be able to Should not be able to No opinion % % % 2003 Jan 23-25 ^ 8 88 4
Children > Would You Select Child Genetic Traits Table Would select traits Child born with natural traits No opinion % % % 2003 Jan 23-25 ^ 7 91 2
Children > Too Much Homework Table Too much Right amount Not enough No opinion % % % % 2001 Aug 16-19 16 57 23 4
Children > Social Pressures at School Table Very serious Somewhat serious Not too serious Not serious at all No opinion % % % % % Drink alcohol 2001 Aug 16-19 22 24 22 30 2 Wear specific type/brand of clothes 2001 Aug 16-19 24 27 23 22 4 Use drugs 2001 Aug 16-19 22 26 23 27 2 Achieve a specific body image 2001 Aug 16-19 25 29 25 20 1 Be popular 2001 Aug 16-19 26 39 22 11 2 Have sexual relations 2001 Aug 16-19 19 28 20 28 5 Smoke cigarettes 2001 Aug 16-19 16 25 25 33 1
Children > Pressure Perform Academically Table To perform well Not to perform well No opinion % % % 2001 Aug 16-19 69 21 10
Children > Hours Drive to Organized Activities Table 2001 Aug 3-5 % None 29 One hour 10 Two hours 13 Three hours 9 Four hours 9 Five hours 6 Six hours 3 Seven to 10 hours 12 Eleven to 15 hours 5 More than 15 hours 3 No opinion 1 Mean 4.3 Median 2
Children > Ideal Family Work Situation Table Both work full time One full time, One part time One full time, one work at home One stays home to raise children No opinion % % % % % 2001 Apr 20-22 13 24 17 41 5 1991 Jul 25-28 14 27 15 39 5 1989 Oct 1-4 7 42 15 33 3
Children > Most Important Way Prevent School Shootings Table 2001 Mar 26-28 1999 May 7-9 % % Parent involvement/responsibility 31 32 More security at schools 14 16 Better gun control/laws/issues 11 12 Better education/students/parents 6 3 Control media violence/video games/Internet 5 4 Lift laws on disciplining children 4 6 Put prayer back in school/home 3 3 Raise morals/people's standards 3 3 Better communication between students/parents/teachers 3 4 Monitor/Watch students more closely 3 -- Stop bullies/bullying 2 -- More counselors/counseling/teachers 2 6 Stricter punishment on children/laws 2 2 Report threats/Take threats more seriously 1 -- Dress codes/uniforms * 1 None 1 1 Other 2 4 No opinion 7 3
Children > Important Cause Shooting Home Life Table Extremely important Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important No opinion % % % % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 57 35 4 2 1 1
Children > Important Cause Shooting Bullying Table Extremely important Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important No opinion % % % % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 29 33 23 8 5 2
Children > Important Cause Shooting Violence Entertainment Table Extremely important Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important No opinion % % % % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 38 30 17 7 6 2
Children > Important Cause Shooting Media Coverage Shootings Table Extremely important Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important No opinion % % % % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 32 32 23 7 3 3
Children > Important Cause Shooting Ease Obtaining Guns Table Extremely important Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important No opinion % % % % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 46 31 10 6 5 2
Children > Important Cause Shooting School Discipline Table Extremely important Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important No opinion % % % % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 31 36 17 8 3 5
Children > Important Cause Shooting Size of High Schools Table Extremely important Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important No opinion % % % % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 20 29 26 15 6 4
Children > Important Cause Shooting Families Moving Around Table Extremely important Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important No opinion % % % % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 17 26 28 18 9 2
Children > Media Acting Responsibly School Shootings Table Responsibly Irresponsibly No opinion % % % 2001 Mar 26-28 57 37 6 1999 Apr 26-27 67 29 4
Children > Difficult Raise Children Good People Table 1998 Jul 7-8 % 01 Very easy 2 2 2 3 3 4 2 5 11 6 7 7 14 8 23 9 7 10 Very difficult 28 No opinion 1 Mean 7.5
Children > Harder Raise Children Be Good People Today Table Harder Not harder No opinion % % % 1998 Jul 7-8 89 10 1
Children > Parents Doing Better Job Raising Table Better Worse Same No opinion % % % % 1998 Jul 7-8 4 67 28 1
Children > Turn Out Well Today Table Will turn out well Good chance will get into trouble No opinion % % % 1998 Jul 7-8 44 51 5
Children > Parents Shield From Popular Culture Table Possible Nearly impossible No opinion % % % 1998 Jul 7-8 26 73 1
Children > Ideal Number if Money No Object Table Zero One Two Three Four Five or more No opinion Mean % % % % % % % 1997 ^ 1 1 43 23 19 8 6 3
Recommended
U.S. young people aged 12-25 who participate in service activities report greater feelings of career readiness, connection and resilience.
Even as the U.S. birth rate has fallen to a new low of 1.6 births per woman, Americans still say the ideal family includes an average of 2.7 children.
Roughly four in 10 parents have feared for their child's safety at school each of the past four years, the longest such stretch in Gallup's trend since 1998.
Most Americans regard respect, family, trustworthiness, freedom and kindness as important values, but family stands out when asked to pick their top three.
Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/1588/Children-Violence.aspx Gallup World Headquarters, 901 F Street, Washington, D.C., 20001, U.S.A
