IFS report says American fatherhood is shrinking among young men

New research from the Institute for Family Studies finds that fatherhood is increasingly concentrated among married, religious, conservative, and more educated men, while childlessness is rising fastest among liberal, secular, and working-class men. The report says the shift could affect family formation, loneliness, and long-term well-being for millions of men.

Why it matters: - Fatherhood is becoming less common among American men ages 25 to 45, even as the men who are fathers are more involved than any previous generation. - The report says the split could widen inequality in family life, with more advantages clustering among men who are able to marry and raise children. - The authors argue the trend matters because childless men are more likely to face loneliness, unhappiness, and a weaker sense of purpose.

What happened: - The Institute for Family Studies released new research by Brad Wilcox and Grant Bailey on June 17, 2026. - The report says 53% of men ages 25 to 45 are fathers, down from roughly two-thirds in the 1980s. - The number of childless men ages 25 to 45 has risen to 23 million, up from 10 million in 1980. - The report says fatherhood is increasingly concentrated among men with more resources, social capital, and family-oriented cultural views.

The details: - Among working-class men ages 25 to 45, 34% are married fathers, down from 58% in the 1980s. - Among liberal men ages 25 to 45, 37% are fathers, compared with 62% of conservative men. - Among men ages 25 to 45 who frequently attend religious services, 64% are fathers. - Half of secular men in that age group have children. - The report says married fathers are the happiest group of men in their mid-twenties and are more than twice as likely to say they are “very happy” as childless and unmarried peers. - Brad Wilcox said a growing number of American men are walking away from fatherhood, with working-class, liberal, and secular men leading the retreat. - Grant Bailey said the declines are not uniform and are largest among liberal, secular, and working-class men.

Between the lines: - The report points to a cultural and economic sorting effect, not just a broad decline in parenting. - That matters because fatherhood is showing up less as a shared life stage and more as an outcome tied to marriage, religion, education, and political identity. - The authors frame the change as a long-term social shift that could reshape family formation and men’s well-being.

What's next: - The report is likely to feed debate over marriage, fertility, and the social conditions that make family formation more or less likely. - Wilcox, who is listed as available for media interviews, is likely to continue public commentary on the findings. - The broader question for policymakers and family researchers is whether the gap between fathers and childless men keeps widening or stabilizes.

The bottom line: - American fatherhood is not disappearing evenly; it is becoming more concentrated among men with stronger ties to marriage, religion, and family-centered norms.