South Dakota once again ranked 4th out of all 50 states for the strength of our families and pro-family culture in the “Family Structure Index,” a nationwide study sponsored by our allies in Ohio at the Center for Christian Virtue and the Institute for Family Studies.

The Family Structure Index 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.

“Family structure is one of the strongest predictors we have for whether children and communities are thriving,” wrote Brad Wilcox, Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, and 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 report suggests that family structure is the ‘missing piece’ of economic mobility,” the researchers wrote. “Children raised in stable, two-parent homes are twice as likely to graduate from college and significantly more likely to enter the middle class. Additionally, married adults are approximately 80 percent less likely to live in poverty than their single peers.”

This year, South Dakota earned a 96.1% index score, with the following factors considered:

• 59.6% of prime-age adults are married
• 64.7% of teens are being raised in intact families
• 2.05 is our total fertility rate (the highest in the nation, once again)

“Nebraska (3) and South Dakota (4), coming in 3rd and 4th respectively in the Family Structure Index, have the highest fertility rates in the country. Indeed, South Dakota is the only state with a total fertility rate above 2 today,” the report noted.

Although our ranking remained 4th out of 50 this year, we have made incredible progress compared to last year’s numbers.

In 2025, we earned an overall index score of 80.5, compared to 96.1% this year. Last year, 59% of South Dakota children were born and raised by married parents, compared to 64.7% this year. In 2025, our fertility rate was 2.01, compared to 2.05 this year.

These improvements may seem marginal, but year-to-year, this is encouraging growth. These numbers reaffirm that our state is headed in the right direction.

This ranking is no stroke of luck – it’s the result of decades of hard work and a continued commitment to family values. South Dakota is one of the best places in the nation to raise a family – we believe this wholeheartedly, and it’s encouraging to see the data confirm it.