A portrait of Canada’s families in 2021

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Release date: July 13, 2022

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Infographic: A portrait of Canada’s families in 2021 — Description: A portrait of Canada’s families in 2021

In 2021, Canada’s families came in many shapes and sizes.

table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of table 1. The information is grouped by Census family structure (appearing as row headers), Number and Distribution (in percent) (appearing as column headers).
Census family structure Number Distribution (in percent)

Census families 10,262,920 100.0

One-parent families 1,686,340 16.4

Couple families (married or common-law) 8,576,580 83.6

Couple families (married or common-law) – Without children 4,286,165 41.8

Couple families (married or common-law) – With children 4,290,415 41.8

Couple families (married or common-law) – With children – Two-parent non-stepfamilies 3,786,935 36.9

Couple families (married or common-law) – With children – Two-parent stepfamilies 503,475 4.9

In Budget 2021, the federal government laid out a plan to provide Canadian parents with, on average, $10-a-day regulated child care spaces for children aged 0 to 5 years within the next five years.^{Note 1}

According to the 2021 Census, 1,643,320 families had at least one child aged 0 to 5 years, representing 16% of all families in Canada.

table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of table 2. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Proportion of census families that have children aged 0 to 5 years, 2021 (appearing as column headers).
Geography Proportion of census families that have children aged 0 to 5 years, 2021

Canada 16.00%

Newfoundland and Labrador 11.7%^{table 2 Note ¥}

Prince Edward Island 13.9%^{table 2 Note ¥}

Nova Scotia 13.3%^{table 2 Note ¥}

New Brunswick 13.0%^{table 2 Note ¥}

Quebec 16.3%^{table 2 Note ǂ}

Ontario 15.6%^{table 2 Note ¥}

Manitoba 18.7%^{table 2 Note ǂ}

Saskatchewan 19.1%^{table 2 Note ǂ}

Alberta 18.9%^{table 2 Note ǂ}

British Columbia 14.3%^{table 2 Note ¥}

Yukon 18.4%^{table 2 Note ǂ}

Northwest Territories 22.4%^{table 2 Note ǂ}

Nunavut 38.4%^{table 2 Note ǂ}

Note ¥

Lower than the national average

Return to note ¥ referrer

Note ǂ

Higher than the national average

Return to note ǂ referrer

In Nunavut, one-parent families represented one in three families, compared with one in seven families in British Columbia.

table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of table 3. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Proportion of census families that are one-parent families (appearing as column headers).
Geography Proportion of census families that are one-parent families

Canada 16.40%

Newfoundland and Labrador 15.80%

Prince Edward Island 15.50%

Nova Scotia 17.40%

New Brunswick 16.40%

Quebec 16.50%

Ontario 17.10%

Manitoba 17.00%

Saskatchewan 17.10%

Alberta 15.20%

British Columbia 14.90%

Yukon 18.70%

Northwest Territories 23.30%

Nunavut 33.20%

Did you know? Over the last century, the average census family size has decreased from 4.2 persons in 1931 to 2.9 persons in 2021.

**Sources:** 2021 Census of Population; Wargon, Sylvia T. 1979. “Canadian Households and Families: Recent Demographic Trends,” Census Analytical Study, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-753E.

Notes

Footnote 1.

A similar program has been in place in Quebec since 1997. For more information, see: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/12/a-canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-plan.html.

Return to note 1 referrer

table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of table 1. The information is grouped by Census family structure (appearing as row headers), Number and Distribution (in percent) (appearing as column headers).
Census family structure	Number	Distribution (in percent)
Census families	10,262,920	100.0
One-parent families	1,686,340	16.4
Couple families (married or common-law)	8,576,580	83.6
Couple families (married or common-law) – Without children	4,286,165	41.8
Couple families (married or common-law) – With children	4,290,415	41.8
Couple families (married or common-law) – With children – Two-parent non-stepfamilies	3,786,935	36.9
Couple families (married or common-law) – With children – Two-parent stepfamilies	503,475	4.9

table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of table 2. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Proportion of census families that have children aged 0 to 5 years, 2021 (appearing as column headers).
Geography	Proportion of census families that have children aged 0 to 5 years, 2021
Canada	16.00%
Newfoundland and Labrador	11.7%^{table 2 Note ¥}
Prince Edward Island	13.9%^{table 2 Note ¥}
Nova Scotia	13.3%^{table 2 Note ¥}
New Brunswick	13.0%^{table 2 Note ¥}
Quebec	16.3%^{table 2 Note ǂ}
Ontario	15.6%^{table 2 Note ¥}
Manitoba	18.7%^{table 2 Note ǂ}
Saskatchewan	19.1%^{table 2 Note ǂ}
Alberta	18.9%^{table 2 Note ǂ}
British Columbia	14.3%^{table 2 Note ¥}
Yukon	18.4%^{table 2 Note ǂ}
Northwest Territories	22.4%^{table 2 Note ǂ}
Nunavut	38.4%^{table 2 Note ǂ}
Note ¥ Lower than the national average Return to note ¥ referrer Note ǂ Higher than the national average Return to note ǂ referrer

table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of table 3. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Proportion of census families that are one-parent families (appearing as column headers).
Geography	Proportion of census families that are one-parent families
Canada	16.40%
Newfoundland and Labrador	15.80%
Prince Edward Island	15.50%
Nova Scotia	17.40%
New Brunswick	16.40%
Quebec	16.50%
Ontario	17.10%
Manitoba	17.00%
Saskatchewan	17.10%
Alberta	15.20%
British Columbia	14.90%
Yukon	18.70%
Northwest Territories	23.30%
Nunavut	33.20%

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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:: 2022-07-13

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A portrait of Canada’s families in 2021

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