Hopefulness in Canada

Release date: May 17, 2022
Infographic: Hopefulness in Canada
Description: Hopefulness in Canada

Canada’s Quality of Life Framework

In 2021/2022, 64% of people in Canada were hopeful about the future, down from 75% in 2016.

Change in hopefulness from 2016 to 2021/2022


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1 Percentage change (appearing as column headers).
Percentage change
Canada -11.3%
British Columbia -14.5%
Alberta -12.2%
Saskatchewan -13.0%
Manitoba -10.1%
Ontario -11.3%
Quebec -8.7%
New Brunswick -10.5%
Nova Scotia -12.2%
Prince Edward Island -12.2%
Newfoundland and Labrador -10.2%

Some population groups had below-average levels of hopefulness. For example, persons with a disability, difficulty or long-term conditionNote 1 were less likely to feel hopeful about the future.


Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2 Percentage who “always” or “often” feel hopeful about the future (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who “always” or “often” feel hopeful about the future
Men Women
Persons with a disability 51% 55%
Persons without a disability 71% 74%

People living alone feel less hopeful about the future.


Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 Percentage who “always” or “often” feel hopeful about the future (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who “always” or “often” feel hopeful about the future
Living alone 56%
Persons in a household with two or more people, no children 64%
Persons in a household with two or more people, with children 70%

LGBTQ2+ people were also less hopeful about the future.


Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 4 Percentage who “always” or “often” feel hopeful about the future (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who “always” or “often” feel hopeful about the future
Men 63%
Women 65%
TransgenderNote 2 or non-binaryNote 3 people 38%

Table 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 5 Percentage who “always” or “often” feel hopeful about the future (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who “always” or “often” feel hopeful about the future
Heterosexual 65%
Lesbian or gay 52%
Bisexual 49%
Other sexual orientation 44%

Note: Individuals are considered hopeful about the future if they responded always or often to the following question: “Thinking about your life in general, how often would you say you have a hopeful view of the future?”

Source: Statistics Canada. 2022. “Hopefulness is declining across Canada: having children or strong ties to a local community associated with a more hopeful outlook.” The Daily. May.

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