Income in Canada, 2020
Description: Income in Canada, 2020
In 2020, the median after-tax income of Canadian households was $73,000, up 9.8% from 2015.Note 1
Median income also increased in 8 of the 10 largest urban centres.
2015 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|
dollars | ||
Canada | 66,500 | 73,000 |
Calgary | 92,000 | 87,000 |
Toronto | 74,500 | 85,000 |
Ottawa-Gatineau | 75,500 | 84,000 |
Edmonton | 87,000 | 84,000 |
Hamilton | 71,500 | 80,000 |
Vancouver | 68,500 | 79,500 |
Winnipeg | 66,000 | 71,500 |
London | 62,400 | 71,000 |
Montréal | 58,000 | 65,500 |
Québec | 60,400 | 65,500 |
In 2020, 84% of Canadians 15 and older received income from government transfers, up sharply from 69% in 2015. This increase was largely driven by the COVID-19 emergency and recovery benefits they received in 2020.Note 2 Median amounts received from government transfers also increased.
2015 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|
percent | ||
Government transfers | 69 | 84 |
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement | 18 | 20 |
Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan benefits | 23 | 25 |
Employment Insurance benefits | 9 | 11 |
Child benefits | 14 | 13 |
Other (including COVID-19 Emergency and Recovery Benefits) | 47 | 75 |
COVID-19 Emergency and Recovery Benefits only | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 28 |
.. not available for a specific reference period |
2015 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|
dollars | ||
Government transfers | 5,880 | 9,800 |
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement | 7,350 | 7,650 |
Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan benefits | 8,000 | 8,100 |
Employment Insurance benefits | 6,080 | 5,720 |
Child benefits | 4,160 | 5,840 |
Other (including COVID-19 Emergency and Recovery Benefits) | 675 | 1,960 |
COVID-19 Emergency and Recovery Benefits only | Note ..: not available for a specific reference period | 8,000 |
.. not available for a specific reference period |
In 2020, 11.1% of Canadians were in low income, compared with 14.4% in 2015.Note 3 This was the biggest five-year decrease since 1976.
While the prevalence of low income decreased sharply among Canadians aged 0-54, it increased slightly among those 65 and over.
2015 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|
percent | ||
Total | 14.4 | 11.1 |
0 to 17 | 17.5 | 11.9 |
18 to 24 | 17.2 | 11.6 |
25 to 54 | 12.5 | 8.7 |
55 to 64 | 13.3 | 11.2 |
65 and over | 14.4 | 15.0 |
Income inequality measured using the Gini coefficient and P90/P10 ratio of adjusted after-tax income of households declined between 2015 and 2020, and at a greater rate than between 2010 and 2015.Note 4
Year | Gini coefficient of adjusted after-tax income of households |
---|---|
2010 | 0.343 |
2015 | 0.342 |
2020 | 0.302 |
In 2020, the 90th percentile of the adjusted after-tax income of households was 3.8X as much as the 10th percentile.
Year | P90/P10 ratio of adjusted after-tax income of households |
---|---|
2010 | 4.9 |
2015 | 4.6 |
2020 | 3.8 |
Sources: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, 2016 Census of Population, 2011 National Household Survey.
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