Kentucky Ranks 16th in the U.S. for Family Stability According to New National Study

LEXINGTON, KY – Kentucky ranks 16th in the nation for family stability, according to the 2026 Family Structure Index (FSI), a new national report released this week by the Institute for Family Studies and our state family policy council allies in Ohio, Center for Christian Virtue.

The Index measures the strength and stability of family life in all 50 states, offering a clear snapshot of how family trends are shaping outcomes for children, communities, and local economies.

The full report is available at FamilyStructureIndex.org.

“Strong families are the foundation for a healthy society. The Family Structure Index exposes the need for policy makers and church leaders to promote healthy marriages and families across our Commonwealth and the entire nation. Last year, Kentucky was ranked 13th in the United States, but sadly, this year we dropped down to 16th. However, I believe we can learn from this report and work to better help hurting families across Kentucky,” said David Walls, Executive Director of The Family Foundation. “I am grateful for the efforts of many legislators this year who introduced pro-family policies, including HB 227 by Rep. Matt Lockett, which would protect children from the harms of social media and empower parents, and HB 52 by Rep. Shane Baker, which would require public schools to teach the “success sequence.” The key to building a stronger Commonwealth is strengthening marriages and families.”

FSI evaluates three key factors: marriage rates among adults aged 25 to 54, fertility patterns, and the share of children being raised by married parents. Together, these indicators provide a reliable picture of family stability and its connection to long-term well-being and attainability of the American Dream.

Across the country, the report finds wide variation between states. Utah ranks first in family stability for the second year in a row, while New Mexico ranks last.

Key Findings for Kentucky:
● 16 overall ranking in family structure
● 60.4% of children in Kentucky are raised by married parents
● 58.9% of adults (25–54) are married
● 1.81 Fertility rate

“Family structure is one of the strongest predictors we have for whether children and communities are thriving,” said Brad Wilcox, Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia and a lead researcher on the report. “States that are doing well in this area have markedly lower levels of child poverty, as well as higher rates of economic mobility and home ownership.”

The findings point to a consistent pattern: states with stronger families tend to see lower poverty rates, better educational outcomes, and safer communities. Conversely, declines in marriage and increases in single-parent households are closely tied to long-term economic and social challenges.

Still, the report emphasizes that these trends are not set in stone, and that practical steps from policymakers and community leaders can make a real difference.

“Culture and our politics matter. People are less likely to get married and have kids when they don’t think they can afford it and if they don’t feel supported. We need to promote policies that uphold marriage and strong families, will make housing more affordable, lower taxes, and provide better educational choice and opportunities,” said David Walls. “I firmly believe Kentucky has an opportunity and responsibility to be a leader in the nation in promoting bold, pro-family policies that will help build a culture that values marriage and children.”