Household food insecurity in Canada, 2017/2018

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

Archived

This page has been archived on the Web.

Release date: June 24, 2020
More information PDF version
Infographic: Household food insecurity in Canada, 2017/2018
Description: Household food insecurity in Canada, 2017/2018

Household food insecurity in Canada, 2017/2018


Household food insecurity exists when there is a compromise in the quality or quantity of food consumed (moderate food insecurity) or there is reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns (severe food insecurity).

1.2 million of 14.3 million households experienced food insecurity

  • Food insecurity: 1.2 million households
  • Moderate food insecurity: 820,000 households
  • Severe food insecurity: 430,000 households

One in four single-mother households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity

  • Female lone-parent families: 25%
  • Male lone-parent families: 16%
  • Couples with children: 7%

Compared with the national average (8.8%), moderate or severe food insecurity was highest in Nunavut


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Province or Territory (appearing as row headers), Percentage and Compared to the national average (appearing as column headers).
Province or Territory Percentage Compared to the national average
Canada 8.8% Note ...: not applicable
Newfoundland and Labrador 10.0% Similar
Prince Edward Island 9.9% Similar
Nova Scotia 10.9% Higher
New Brunswick 8.9% Similar
Quebec 7.4% Lower
Ontario 9.0% Similar
Manitoba 10.2% Higher
Saskatchewan 9.3% Similar
Alberta 9.2% Similar
British Columbia 8.7% Similar
Yukon 12.6% Higher
Northwest Territories 15.9% Higher
Nunavut 49.4% Higher
... not applicable

Households that rented their home were five times more likely to experience moderate or severe food insecurity than households that owned their home

4% owned, 19% rented

One in five households that relied on government benefits as their main source of income were moderately or severely food insecure

Source: Canadian Community Health Survey – Annual Component, 2017/2018.

More information

Note of appreciation

Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill.

Standards of service to the public

Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients.

Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2020

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

Report a problem on this page

Is something not working? Is there information outdated? Can't find what you're looking for?

Please contact us and let us know how we can help you.

Privacy notice

Date modified: