South Carolina Significantly Improves Family Stability Ranking, New National Report Finds

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 7, 2026) – South Carolina has significantly improved its family stability ranking, rising from 45th place in 2014 to 28th place in 2026, according to the new Family Structure Index (FSI) released today by the Center for Christian Virtue and the Institute for Family Studies.

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.

“Families are the foundation of a strong society,” said Palmetto Family Council President Steve Pettit.

“It’s encouraging to see that South Carolina has significantly improved its family stability ranking. This ranking should encourage lawmakers to continue to promote marriage and strong, stable families to keep South Carolina a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.”

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, its connection to long-term well-being, and the 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. Our Southeastern neighbors’ rankings are North Carolina (23), Tennessee (24), and Georgia (37).

Key Findings for South Carolina include:

● Our overall ranking is 28th in family structure

● 59.2% of children in South Carolina are raised by married parents

● 55.1% of adults (25–54) are married

“Family structure is one of the strongest predictors we have for whether children and communities are thriving,” said Dr. Brad Wilcox, Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, who is 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.

“While South Carolina has made great strides, we still have a lot of work to do. Lawmakers would do well to lower the tax burden on families and provide broader educational opportunities for children in our state. These types of changes will make South Carolina stronger for years to come,” concluded Pettit.

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Palmetto Family Council exists to glorify God and advance the Gospel by being the voice for biblical values in South Carolina’s centers of influence.

We are the only non-profit, non-partisan, Christian organization focused on the broad array of issues affecting South Carolinians, such as the value of life, marriage and family, educational freedom, and religious liberty.