Health Reports, October 2024
Released: 2024-10-16
Levels of food insecurity increased in 2022 after being relatively stable from 2017 to 2021
Approximately 1 in 10 households had experienced some level of food insecurity in the previous 12 months in 2017 (9.6%) and in 2018 (11.6%). Prevalence of household food insecurity was slightly lower and was stable during the COVID-19 pandemic years (8.5% in fall 2020 and 9.1% in 2021) and it increased to 15.6% in 2022. Household food insecurity is an important determinant of health and a sensitive marker of households' financial situations.
The study "Trends in household food insecurity from the Canadian Community Health Survey, 2017 to 2022," provides an update on the food insecurity status of Canadian households using the most recent available data (up until December 2022) from the health-oriented survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey. The study also examined trends in household food insecurity since 2017 and how these have tracked with changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Household food insecurity generally tracked with changes in Consumer Price Index
Levels of household food insecurity generally tracked with changes in the CPI, particularly in 2022, when inflation reached peak levels. This is consistent with evidence that food insecurity is a marker of household financial circumstances, reflecting sensitivity to rising costs of food and other basic needs, such as shelter and transportation.
From 2021 to 2022, more households reported experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity
In addition to a higher overall prevalence of household food insecurity in 2022, there was an increase in the severity of food insecurity. In 2022, more Canadian households reported experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity in the previous 12 months compared with 2021. The most affected households were those at heightened risk of financial hardship, particularly one-parent households with children, households reliant on government assistance for income in the prior year and renters.
An increase in the number of Canadians living in moderately or severely food insecure households was similarly documented by Canadian Income Survey data collected in the first half of 2023.
Looking ahead, although headline price inflation has slowed following its peak in 2022, prices remain elevated for many basic goods and services, including food, rent and mortgage interest. Continued monitoring of income-related food insecurity will be essential to gauge the scope of this public health challenge and to inform appropriate program and policy responses.
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Note to readers
This study is based on data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) cycles 2017, 2018, 2020 (September to December), 2021 and 2022. The CCHS collects information about the health status and health determinants of Canadians. The target population was individuals aged 12 years or older living in the ten Canadian provinces. Income-related household food security status was measured using the 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module. Household food insecurity in the previous 12 months was defined as marginal, moderate or severe. Estimates represent proportions of Canadian households (not individuals) with experience of food insecurity.
The CCHS has measured levels of household food insecurity in Canada since 2005 on a rotating schedule. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, food insecurity questions have been asked annually for all respondents. In 2019 (for the reference year 2018), the Canadian Income Survey also began collecting data on household food insecurity in Canada on an annual basis.
Products
The article "Trends in household food insecurity from the Canadian Community Health Survey, 2017 to 2022" is now available in the October 2024 online issue of Health Reports, Vol. 35, No. 10 (82-003-X).
This issue of Health Reports also contains the articles "From BpTRU to OMRON: The impact of changing automated blood pressure measurement devices on adult population estimates of blood pressure and hypertension" and "Child care for young children with disabilities."
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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