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Facts for Grandparents Day 2005

Sept. 6, 2005 - This Sunday, September 11, is Grandparents Day. It is not a holiday that has ever garnered much attention, even though it has been around from more than 25 years. In recognition of grandparents, however, the U.S. Census Bureau has gathered some rather interesting statistics about America's grandparents, including news that there will be about three million grandparents day cards given out.

By U.S. Census Bureau

Grandparents Day was the brainchild of Marian McQuade of Fayette County, W.Va., who hoped that such an observance might persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents. The first presidential proclamation was issued in 1978, with one issued each year since — designating the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. In honor of the nation’s grandparents, the Census Bureau presents an array of data about these unsung caregivers.

How Many Grandparents?
5.5 million
The number of grandparents whose grandchildren under 18 live with them. Most of these grandparents (4.2 million) maintain their own household. CLICK

Grandparents as Caregivers
2.3 million
The number of grandparents responsible for most of the basic needs (i.e., food, shelter, clothing) of one or more of the grandchildren they live with. These grandparents represent about 43 percent of all grandparents who live with their grandchildren. Of these caregivers, 1.5 million are grandmothers and 860,000 are grandfathers. (CLICK)

1.7 million
The number of grandparent-caregivers who are married. CLICK

1.4 million
The number of grandparents who are in the labor force and also responsible for most of the basic needs of their grandchildren. CLICK

910,000
Number of grandparents responsible for caring for their grandchildren for at least the last five years. CLICK

460,000
Number of grandparents whose income is below the poverty level and caring for their grandchildren. CLICK

Grandchildren
5.5 million
The number of children living with a grandparent; these children comprise 8 percent of all children in the United States. Of these children, 3.8 million lived in their grandparent’s home and 1.7 million in their parent’s home. CLICK

2.1 million
The number of children who resided with both a grandmother and a grandfather. CLICK

80 Percent
Recent research by the American Association of Retired Persons reveals that more than 80 percent of the nation’s grandparents had visited or spoken with their grandchildren by phone in the past month. (Source: Hallmark research)

Remembering Grandma and Grandpa
About 3 million
Number of Grandparents Day cards given, nationwide, each year. (Source: Hallmark research)

Founders Website - http://www.grandparents-day.com

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected by the U.S. Census Bureau from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: (301) 763-3030; fax: (301) 457-3670; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.

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