Description: Family Matters: To have kids or not to have kids: That is the question!
For over a decade, the number of children per woman in Canada has been on a general downward trend, falling from 1.69 in 2009 to 1.43 in 2021.
Number of children per woman, 2007 to 2021, Canada Table summary
This table displays the results of Number of children per woman. The information is grouped by Year (appearing as row headers), Number of children per woman in Canada (appearing as column headers).
Year
Number of children per woman in Canada
2007
1.67
2008
1.70
2009
1.69
2010
1.65
2011
1.63
2012
1.63
2013
1.61
2014
1.61
2015
1.60
2016
1.59
2017
1.55
2018
1.51
2019
1.47
2020
1.41
2021
1.43
Average number of children desired, 2022, Canada Table summary
This table displays the results of Average number of children desired. The information is grouped by Year (appearing as row headers), Average number of children desired , calculated using Confidence interval – Lower bound, Weighted mean value and Confidence interval – Upper bound units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Year
Average number of children desired
Confidence interval – Lower bound
Weighted mean value
Confidence interval – Upper bound
2022
1.44
1.50
1.56
In 2022, more than a third of people aged 15 to 49 wanted two children, while one-third did not intend to have any. Overall, the average desired number of children was 1.50.Note 1
Proportion (%) of people aged 15 to 49 by the desired number of children, 2022, Canada Table summary
This table displays the results of Proportion (%) of people aged 15 to 49 by the desired number of children. The information is grouped by People who intended to have... (appearing as row headers), Proportion (%) (appearing as column headers).
The average number of childrendesired was higher among older people. The differences between age groups could be related to generational factors or variations in financial security.
Average number of children desired by age group, 2022, Canada Table summary
This table displays the results of Average number of children desired by age group. The information is grouped by Age group (appearing as row headers), Desired number of children, calculated using Confidence interval – Lower bound, Weighted mean value and Confidence interval – Upper bound units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Age group
Desired number of children
Confidence interval – Lower bound
Weighted mean value
Confidence interval – Upper bound
15 to 24 years
1.19
1.35
1.50
25 to 34 years
1.42
1.51
1.61
35 to 49 years
1.51
1.58
1.65
Among people aged 15 to 49 in 2022, 614,000 (2%) had at least one adopted child.
Proportion (%) of people aged 15 to 49 with one or more children Table summary
This table displays the results of Proportion (%) of people aged 15 to 49 with one or more children. The information is grouped by Children by relationship type (appearing as row headers), Proportion (%) (appearing as column headers).
Children by relationship type
Proportion (%)
Biological children
61%
Stepchildren
9%
Adopted children
2%
The proportion of women aged 50 and older who have no biological children is on the rise.
Proportion (%) of women aged 50 and older with no biological children Table summary
This table displays the results of Proportion (%) of women aged 50 and older with no biological children. The information is grouped by Year (appearing as row headers), Proportion (%) (appearing as column headers).
Year
Proportion (%)
1990
14.1%
2001
14.1%
2006
14.4%
2011
15.3%
2017
16.3%
2022
17.4%
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Social Survey – Well-being and Family Relationships, 2022, Canadian Social Survey – COVID-19 and Well-being, 2021, General Social Survey, 1990, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2017, table 13-10-0418-01 – Crude birth rate, age-specific fertility rates and total fertility rate (live births).
More information
Note of appreciation
Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill.
Standards of service to the public
Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients.
Copyright
Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.
