Single-parent families account for 12.9% in the EU, with Baltic states leading

According to the latest statistics from Eurostat released today, there were approximately 6.1 million single-parent families in the EU in 2025, accounting for 12.9% of all families with children, equivalent to one in every eight families. Among them, the three Baltic states rank at the top in Europe. Estonia has the highest proportion at 40.6%, meaning about four out of every ten families with children are single-parent households. Lithuania and Latvia follow at 32.7% and 28.5%, respectively. The countries with the lowest proportions are Slovakia (3.1%), Greece (3.8%), and Slovenia (4.0%). Statistics show that in terms of family structure, the majority of single-parent families have one child (60.1%), while 30.9% have two, and 9.0% have three or more. Furthermore, the majority of single-parent households are headed by women, totaling about 5 million households (81.6%), while male heads account for 18.4%. Eurostat added that the release of these statistics coincides with the annual 'Global Day of Parents' on June 1, aiming to emphasize the important role of families, parents, and caregivers in the upbringing, protection, and well-being of children.