Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are proud parents of 19 children — and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We didn’t start out wanting a large family, but God changed our minds and we have been open to life ever since,” Jim Bob said on the Today show in 2010. “We know that we’ve been very fortunate in terms of Michelle’s health because it has always been good, except for feeling like she doesn’t run around after the kids now that she’s 43, as she used to do when she was in her 20s.”
Jim Bob and Michelle raised their kids following the controversial IBLP religion, which included homeschool classes, modesty restrictions and dating via traditional courtships. The Duggars chronicled their life as a large family on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting docuseries and its Counting On spinoff.
Since Jim Bob and Michelle’s kids — all of whom have “J” names — grew up, many of them have taken a step back from the IBLP while expanding their own families.
The Duggars: A Comprehensive Guide to the Famous Family
“I mean, sometimes things are trial and error,” Jinger, who shares three children with husband Jeremy Vuolo, exclusively told Us Weekly in February 2023 of their parenting guidelines. “I want to equip them for life and give them the best possible lives that I can and point them to the word of God.”
She added, “And then, at the end of the day, I think that they will grow and mature. [For example,] I don’t think that courtship is a word that we’re gonna use with them at all because I don’t think that that’s the only way to find a spouse — or the best way — at all.”
Jinger and Vuolo share Felicity (born 2018), Evangeline (born 2020) and Finnegan (born 2025), with no plans to follow in her parents’ footsteps of 19. See what her siblings have said about expanding their own broods:
Jill Duggar
Jill is married to Derick Dillard, welcoming sons Israel, Samuel and Freddy in 2015, 2017, and 2022, respectively. The couple, who have also suffered multiple pregnancy losses, remain on the fence about having more children.
“We would love more kids if God chooses to give us more,” Jill said in a September 2020 YouTube video. “I don’t know that we have a number, [but] probably not 20 kids. Again, we’re not going to rule anything out, like, if God has us run an orphanage or something.”
Jessa Duggar
Jessa and her husband, Ben Seewald, share five children: Spurgeon (born 2015), Henry (born 2017), Ivy (born 2019), Fern (born 2021) and George (born 2023), plus are expecting another baby in 2025.
In a May 2025 social media video, Jessa addressed comments that the couple are “breeding like rabbits” and “trying to follow in [her] mom’s footsteps.”
“I’m not going to have 19 kids, but honestly, my mom is my hero. I love her, I adore her [and] she is my role model in so many ways,” Jessa said. “Her patience, her love, her gentleness [and] her kind speech. She is the golden example of a mother, in my opinion. So, when people say, ‘Do you want to be like your mother?’ I’m like, ‘Yes, please, Lord, help me.’”
Jason Duggar
Less than one year after Jason married Maddie Duggar in October 2024, they revealed that they don’t want to have children “for a little while.”
“I love kids, but I don’t want any right now,” Maddie said in an April 2025 YouTube Q&A video. “I want to savor this and just get to know each other.”
According to Maddie, she would want to have no more than six kids once they are ready to expand their family.
“Absolutely not,” Maddie said, responding to a question about whether 19 could be the magic number. “That’s too many for me. I think your mom is an absolute angel for being able to do that because I couldn’t.”
Jinger Duggar
On a January 2025 episode of the “Unplanned” podcast, Jinger proclaimed that she and Vuolo are “not having 19” little ones. She did think that some of her siblings, however, could get there.
“It’s very possible,” Jinger said. “So, get this: One of my brothers [Jedidiah Duggar] is a twin, OK? He and his wife [Katey Duggar are] pregnant with twins, and their twins are going to be born before their oldest turns 3, so they’re going to have four under the age of 2, so it’s possible.”
Jedidiah Duggar
Jed and his wife, Katey, welcomed son Truett, daughter Nora and twin daughters Elsie and Emma in 2022, 2023 and 2025, respectively. After becoming parents of four, they are uncertain about the next steps.
“We are just praying about each one and we’re just loving life and very excited for each one that God’s given us this far,” Jed said in a December 2024 YouTube video. “We’re not really sure yet. We’re just praying each time, like, asking God, ‘OK, what’s the timing for everything?’”
Jed further noted that the couple are “very open” to a potential baby No. 5 — but didn’t disclose whether 19 could be in the cards.
Joy-Anna Duggar
Joy and her husband, Austin Forsyth, share Gideon (born 2018), Evelyn (born 2020) and Gunner (born 2023).
“Not 19,” she said in a March 2025 Instagram Story Q&A when asked how many kids they want overall. “I want to be able to effectively and intentionally raise [sic] my kids for Jesus so whatever number that is for us: Maybe 4 or 5.”
