Family spending on children in Canada

Release date: September 29, 2023
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Infographic: Family spending on children in Canada
Description: Family spending on children in Canada

In Canada, middle-income familiesNote 1 with two parents and two children spent an average of $293,000 on a child from birth to 17 years of age, based on data from 2014 to 2017.Note 2


Total expenditures per child, from birth to 17 years of age
Table summary
This table displays the results of Total expenditures per child 2017 constant dollars (appearing as column headers).
2017 constant dollars
Two-parent family with two children Lower income group 238,190
Middle income group 293,000
Higher income group 403,910
One-parent family with two children Lower income group 231,260
Middle-high income group 372,110

When children aged 18 to 22 still living in the household were added, total expenditures per child were $68,000 to $117,000 more than the total expenditures on a child from birth through age 17, depending on family size and income group.

Depending on family size and income group, expenditures per child were…

20% to 38% higher in a two-parent family with one child

8% to 15% lower in a two-parent family with three children

…than in a two-parent family with two children.


Percentage of expenditures per child, middle-income families with two parents and two children, by expenditure categoryPercentage of expenditures per child, middle-income families with two parents and two children, by expenditure category3 Note 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentage of expenditures per child percent (appearing as column headers).
percent
Housing 29
Transportation 20
Food 17
Child care and education 14
Miscellaneous 10
Clothing 7
Health care 4

Source: Duncan, K.A., K. Frank and A. Guèvremont, 2023, “Estimating expenditures on children by families in Canada, 2014 to 2017,” Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series, no. 473, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 11F0019M.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2023

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Catalogue no. 11-627-M

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