North Carolina Higher Than Average When It Comes To Single-Parent Families

A new analysis by the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows more than a third of kids in the U.S. are being raised by a single parent,  For many states in the South, that number is even higher.

For example, nearly half of all kids in states like Louisiana and Mississippi are being raised in single-parent homes, according to data from the foundation's Kids Count survey.

The report says 46 states notched an uptick in single-parent households in 2014, bringing the national average to 35 percent.

But North Carolina was one of the few states that didn't see an increase.

In fact, the number of kids being raised by a single parent here has stayed relatively steady over the last five years, hovering a few points above the national average.

In 2014, just over 800,000 North Carolina children were members of single-parent families. Nationwide, that number tops 24 million.

According to experts at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, kids in single-parent homes have a higher risk of teen pregnancy and dropping out of school, as well as a higher rate of divorce as adults.