This report is the fourth to present nationwide data on the well-being of America's children. The statistical portrait is based on indicators of child well-being such as family income and mortality rates. Part 1 of the report, "Population and Family Characteristics," presents information illustrating the changes that have occurred during the last few decades in six key demographic measures, including children as a proportion of the population, racial and ethnic composition, difficulty speaking English, and child care utilization. Part 2, "Indicators of Children's Well-Being," presents data on 25 key indicators in the following areas: (1) Economic Security, including family income, secure parental employment, housing, food security, and access to health care; (2) Health, including activity limitation, immunization rates, and infant, child, and adolescent mortality rates; (3) Behavior and Social Environment, including cigarette smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use, and youth victims and perpetrators of serious violent crimes; (4) Education, including family reading to young children and youth neither enrolled in school nor working; and (5) Special Features, beginning kindergartners' knowledge and skills and youth participation in volunteer activities. For each background measure or indicator, three types of information are presented: reasons the measure or indicator is important to understanding children's well-being, figures showing important facts about trends or population groups, and highlights with information on current status, recent trends, and important population group differences. Additional indicators needed are also noted. Two appendices contain detailed data tables and data source descriptions. Among the key findings, the report notes that although the child poverty rate remains similar to that in 1980, the percentage of children experiencing housing problems or food insecurity increased. Child death rates continue to drop. The percentage of children with low birthweight has steadily increased since 1984, probably due to the rising number of multiple births. Teen birth rates are the lowest in 40 years. Heavy drinking among adolescents has remained stable over the past few years. Violent crimes committed by youth have dropped sharply. Preschool enrollment increases have been the largest among children in poverty, children with mothers not in the labor force, and black, non-Hispanic children. The overall high school completion rate declined, especially among Hispanics. (KB)