How many children in Canada have experienced the separation or divorce of their parents? Results from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth

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Release date: March 23, 2022

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Infographic: How many children in Canada have experienced the separation or divorce of their parents? Results from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth — Description: How many children in Canada have experienced the separation or divorce of their parents? Results from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth

In 2019, **18%** of children aged 1 to 17 (**1,185,700 children**) had experienced the separation or divorce of their parents during their childhood.

Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Percentage of children who have experienced parental separation or divorce (appearing as column headers).
Geography Percentage of children who have experienced parental separation or divorce

Canada 18

Newfoundland and Labrador 19

Prince Edward Island 18

Nova Scotia 22^{Table 1 Note †}

New Brunswick 25^{Table 1 Note †}

Quebec 23^{Table 1 Note †}

Ontario 16^{Table 1 Note ‡}

Manitoba 15^{Table 1 Note ‡}

Saskatchewan 18

Alberta 16^{Table 1 Note ‡}

British Columbia 17

Yukon 20

North West Territories 17

Nunavut 18

Note †

Significantly higher than the national average

Return to note † referrer

Note ‡

Significantly lower than the national average

Return to note ‡ referrer

Older children were more likely to have experienced parental divorce or separation than younger children.

Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Age of child (appearing as row headers), Percentage who have experienced parental separation or divorce (appearing as column headers).
Age of child Percentage who have experienced parental separation or divorce

1-4 years 8

5-11 years 19

12-17 years 24

Most children who have experienced parental separation or divorce had some contact with their other parent.^Note 1

Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3. The information is grouped by Type of contact with their other parent or guardian (appearing as row headers), Distribution (in percent) among children who have experienced parental separation or divorce (appearing as column headers).
Type of contact with their other parent^{Table 3 Note 1} or guardian Distribution (in percent) among children who have experienced parental separation or divorce

Equal time^{Table 3 Note 2} 21

Regular^{Table 3 Note 3} visits 36

Irregular visits 17

Remote contact^{Table 3 Note 4} only 8

No contact 19

Note 1

'Other parent' refers to the child's other parent or guardian who is not a member of the household surveyed.

Return to note 1 referrer

Note 2

Lives equally with both parents or guardians.

Return to note 2 referrer

Note 3

For example, every week, every two weeks or every month.

Return to note 3 referrer

Note 4

Remote contact refers to video calls or chats and contact by telephone, letter or email only.

Return to note 4 referrer

Did you know?

In 2019, 3% of children in Canada aged 1 to 17 years in had experienced the **death of a parent or sibling during their childhood.**

In contrast, nearly a century earlier in 1921, 9% of children aged 15 and under had at least one deceased parent, while 4% had two deceased parents.

Among children who have experienced parental separation or divorce:

61% had moved **twice or more** in their lives

37% had a sibling living in a **different home**

20% were living with a **stepparent**

17% were living with a **half-sibling**

5% were living with a **stepsibling**

**Source:** Statistics Canada, 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, 1921 Census of Canada, volume III, Catalogue no. 98-1921, table 31.

Notes

Footnote 1.

'Other parent' refers to the child's other parent or guardian who is not a member of the household surveyed.

Return to note 1 referrer

Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Percentage of children who have experienced parental separation or divorce (appearing as column headers).
Geography	Percentage of children who have experienced parental separation or divorce
Canada	18
Newfoundland and Labrador	19
Prince Edward Island	18
Nova Scotia	22^{Table 1 Note †}
New Brunswick	25^{Table 1 Note †}
Quebec	23^{Table 1 Note †}
Ontario	16^{Table 1 Note ‡}
Manitoba	15^{Table 1 Note ‡}
Saskatchewan	18
Alberta	16^{Table 1 Note ‡}
British Columbia	17
Yukon	20
North West Territories	17
Nunavut	18
Note † Significantly higher than the national average Return to note † referrer Note ‡ Significantly lower than the national average Return to note ‡ referrer

Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Age of child (appearing as row headers), Percentage who have experienced parental separation or divorce (appearing as column headers).
Age of child	Percentage who have experienced parental separation or divorce
1-4 years	8
5-11 years	19
12-17 years	24

Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3. The information is grouped by Type of contact with their other parent or guardian (appearing as row headers), Distribution (in percent) among children who have experienced parental separation or divorce (appearing as column headers).
Type of contact with their other parent^{Table 3 Note 1} or guardian	Distribution (in percent) among children who have experienced parental separation or divorce
Equal time^{Table 3 Note 2}	21
Regular^{Table 3 Note 3} visits	36
Irregular visits	17
Remote contact^{Table 3 Note 4} only	8
No contact	19
Note 1 'Other parent' refers to the child's other parent or guardian who is not a member of the household surveyed. Return to note 1 referrer Note 2 Lives equally with both parents or guardians. Return to note 2 referrer Note 3 For example, every week, every two weeks or every month. Return to note 3 referrer Note 4 Remote contact refers to video calls or chats and contact by telephone, letter or email only. Return to note 4 referrer

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

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

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

Date modified:: 2022-03-23

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How many children in Canada have experienced the separation or divorce of their parents? Results from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth

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