Less than half of U.S children under the age of 18 live at home with two married, heterosexual parents in their first marriage, new research has revealed.

The figures reveal the ever-changing make-up of the family structure. In the 1960's, 73 per cent of children had what is considered a traditional family structure but by 1980 that figure had dropped to 61 per cent.

The figures were compiled by the Pew Research Center who analysed recently-released American Community Survey and Decennial Census data.



Less than half of U.S children under the age of 18 live at home with two married, heterosexual parents in their first marriage, new research has revealed (stock image)

The changing structure of the American family, has altered the image of who is likely to gather around the table during the holidays.

Previously, couples married young before starting a family, and stayed together. However, the figures show American households are become more complex, and far less traditional.

Americans are getting married later in life, or not at all. And the share of children born outside of marriage has jumped to 41 per cent, compared to just 5 per cent in 1960.

The biggest shift in family structure, the research center found, was that 34 per cent of children were now living with an unmarried parent; in 1960 the figure was just 9 per cent, (stock image)

Although the Pew Research Center didn't have figures on divorce rates, it found that the number of people who had been previously married, or had remarried, was rising.

Some 15 per cent of children were said to now be living in a household with two parents who are in a remarriage. It was not known if those children were from a previous union, or were born within the new union.