Family Matters: Couples who live apart

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Release date: February 20, 2019
Family Matters: Couples who live apart
Family Matters: Couples who live apart

Family Matters: Couples who live apart

In 2017, nearly 1.5 million people in Canada aged 25 to 64 were in a couple relationship with someone living in a different home.

The share of "living-apart-together" couples increased over the past decade.

Percentage of "living-apart-together" couples
Year Percentage of all persons in couples
2006 6%
2017 9%

Living-apart-together was more common among young adults

  • 20% of 25 to 34 year olds in couples
  • 7% of 35 to 54 year olds in couples
  • 5% of 55 to 64 year olds in couples

Almost half had never considered living together (15%) or said it was a choice to live apart (34%) and 51% mentioned other circumstances.

4 out of 5 individuals in a living-apart-together relationship live in the same province, the majority (64%) within 20 km of each other.

Source: General Social Survey (Families), 2017 and 2006.

Note: Includes those in living-apart-together relationships who were married, single (never married), widowed, divorced or separated.

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