"You know, I would be curious to know the total numbers and percentages of people on welfare." Ask, and you shall receive:
In 1994, when debate about federal welfare reform again intensified, the demographics of the national welfare population were as follows:
From 1960 to 1994, the number of people receiving AFDC had grown almost five-fold, from about 3 million to 14 million
In 1993, 87 percent of mothers receiving AFDC did not have a husband present (48 percent were single, 23 percent were widowed or divorced, and 17 percent were separated)
In 1993, 5 percent of mothers receiving AFDC were aged 15–19
In 1993, 55 percent of mothers receiving AFDC were white and 39 percent black
From 1969 to 1994 the size of the average welfare household had fallen, from 4.0 members to 2.9
From 1970 to 1994, federal and state welfare spending combined and adjusted for inflation had climbed from $16 billion to more than $25 billion; the peak was $27 billion, in 1977
http://www.michiganinbrief.org/edition06/text/issues/issue-65.htm
Thank you. Now I only wish I could remember why I wanted to know! ;)
susie