Loneliness in Canada

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Release date: November 24, 2021
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Infographic: Loneliness in Canada
Description: Loneliness in Canada

Canada’s Quality of Life Framework – Society Domain

In Canada, 13% of people aged 15 and older reported always or often feeling lonely.

Loneliness is prevalent across Canada.

If you feel lonely, you’re not alone.


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Region (appearing as row headers), Percentage of people who reported always or often feeling lonely (appearing as column headers).
Region Percentage of people who reported always or often feeling lonely
Atlantic 14%
Quebec 14%
Ontario 13%
Prairies 12%
British Columbia 12%

Note: Differences in the proportion of people reporting loneliness from region to region are not statistically significant.

Loneliness has no age restriction.

Almost 1 in 4 people aged 15 to 24 years reported that they always or often feel lonely.


Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Age group (appearing as row headers), Percentage of people who reported always or often feeling lonely (appearing as column headers).
Age group Percentage of people who reported always or often feeling lonely
15 to 24 23%
25 to 34 15%
35 to 44 10%
45 to 54 10%
55 to 64 10%
65 to 74 9%
75 and older 14%

Women report higher levels of loneliness than men.

  • 11% of men aged 15 and older…
  • 18% of men aged 15 to 24…
  • 15% of women aged 15 and older…
  • 29% of women aged 15 to 24…

reported always or often feeling lonely.

Those who are lonely report worse mental health and lower life satisfaction.


Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3. The information is grouped by Feeling lonely (appearing as row headers), Percentage of people who reported fair or poor mental health (%) (appearing as column headers).
Feeling lonely Percentage of people who reported fair or poor mental health (%)
Always or often 49
Sometimes 19
Rarely or never 7

Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 4. The information is grouped by Feeling lonely (appearing as row headers), Mean life satisfaction rating (based on scale from 0 to 10) (appearing as column headers).
Feeling lonely Mean life satisfaction rating (based on scale from 0 to 10)
Always or often 5.5
Sometimes 7.0
Rarely or never 8.1

People who are married or in a common-law relationship are less lonely.


Table 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 5. The information is grouped by Marital status (appearing as row headers), Percentage of people who said they always or often feel lonely (appearing as column headers).
Marital status Percentage of people who said they always or often feel lonely
Married or common-law 7%
Not in a couple 21%

Note: “Not in a couple” refers to people who are widowed, separated, divorced or single.

Notes:

  1. Loneliness, life satisfaction and self-rated mental health are indicators in the National Quality of Life Framework for Canada.
  2. The data in this infographic reflect the responses of the population aged 15 and older in Canada's 10 provinces.

Source: Canadian Social Survey, Wave 2, August to September 2021.

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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, 2021

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

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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