No US President Has Ever Been an Only Child

Here's a presidential pattern that's held true from George Washington to Joe Biden: not one of America's 46 presidents has been an only child. Every single commander-in-chief has had at least one sibling or half-sibling.

The closest we've come are three presidents who had just one sibling: Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. But even they weren't solo acts in their family trees.

Raised as Only Children (Sort Of)

Some presidents experienced something close to only-child status due to unusual family circumstances. Franklin Roosevelt's half-brother James was 28 years older—more like an uncle than a sibling. Gerald Ford was the only child his biological parents produced, though his mother's remarriage gave him three half-brothers, and his biological father had three more children.

Barack Obama had a 10-year age gap with half-sister Maya and later discovered five more half-siblings on his father's side. Bill Clinton's half-brother Roger is about a decade younger. These presidents might have experienced long stretches of childhood without siblings around, but technically, they all had brothers or sisters.

The Big Families

On the opposite end of the spectrum, James Madison takes the crown with 11 siblings—the most of any president. On average, presidents had just over five siblings, reflecting the larger family sizes common in earlier American history.

• 25 presidents were the oldest child in their family
• Only 4 presidents were youngest children
• Middle children make up the rest

What Does It Mean?

Does having siblings give you a presidential edge? Psychologists note that children with siblings often develop stronger negotiation skills, learn to share resources, and navigate complex social dynamics—all useful traits for political leadership.

But it's probably more coincidence than causation. Family sizes were simply larger throughout most of American history. The average American family had 4-5 children in the 1800s and early 1900s. Only children were statistically rare, so it's not surprising that none reached the presidency.

Still, the pattern is perfect: 46 presidents, zero only children. Whether that streak continues into the future depends partly on changing demographics—American families are smaller now than ever before, with more only children in the general population. Perhaps president number 47, 48, or 50 will finally break this centuries-old trend.