Co-operatives in Canada, 2020

Release date: March 31, 2023
Infographic: Co-operatives in Canada, 2020
Description: Co-operatives in Canada, 2020


In 2020, there were 5,531 active, non-financial co‑operatives in Canada, a decrease of 0.6% from 2019.
Table summary
This table displays the results of In 2020. The information is grouped by Region (appearing as row headers), Count of active cooperatives, 2020 (appearing as column headers).
Region Count of active cooperatives, 2020
Alberta 484
British Columbia 442
Manitoba 248
New Brunswick 114
Newfoundland and Labrador 29
Nova Scotia 192
Ontario 1,045
Prince Edward Island 62
Quebec 2,462
Saskatchewan 414
Territories 39

More than half of non-financial co-operatives operated in three sectors.
Table summary
This table displays the results of More than half of non-financial co-operatives operated in three sectors. . The information is grouped by Industry sector (appearing as row headers), Count of co-operatives, 2020 (appearing as column headers).
Industry sector Count of co-operatives, 2020
Real estate and rental and leasing 1,872 (33.8%)
Wholesale and retail trade 763 (13.8%)
Public administration and other services 705 (12.7%)
Other 2,191 (39.6%)

Though non-financial co-operatives employed 100,987 people, more than half of co-operatives had no employees.
Table summary
This table displays the results of Though non-financial co-operatives employed 100. The information is grouped by Employment size group (appearing as row headers), Count of active cooperatives, 2020 (appearing as column headers).
Employment size group Count of active cooperatives, 2020
No employees 2,891
1- 99 employees 2,478
100 -499 employees 136
500 employees or more 26

Non-profits made up 63.9% of all non-financial co-operatives, but earned 5% of all revenue.
Table summary
This table displays the results of Non-profits made up 63.9% of all non-financial co-operatives. The information is grouped by Non-profit status (appearing as row headers), Percentage of active non-financial co-operatives, 2020 and Percentage of revenue, 2020 (appearing as column headers).
Non-profit status Percentage of active non-financial co-operatives, 2020 Percentage of revenue, 2020
Non-profit 63.9% 5%

The pandemic affected employment in non-financial co-operatives in 2020.
Table summary
This table displays the results of The pandemic affected employment in non-financial co-operatives in 2020. 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (appearing as column headers).
2017 2018 2019 2020
Employment index - co-ops 100 104 105 102
Employment index - all industries in Canada 100 102 104 96

Sources: Statistics Canada, Linkable File Environment, Business Register, and Survey of Employment, Payroll and Hours, 2017 to 2020; National, provincial and territorial co-operative registries, list of non-financial co-operatives.

Date modified: