Co-operatives in Canada, 2021

Release date: November 6, 2023
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Infographic: Co-operatives in Canada, 2021
Description: Co-operatives in Canada, 2021


In 2021, there were 5,605 active, non-financial co‑operatives in Canada, an increase of 0.8% from 2020.
Table summary
This table displays the results of In 2021. The information is grouped by Region (appearing as row headers), Count of active cooperatives, 2021 (appearing as column headers).
Region Count of active cooperatives, 2021
Alberta 493
British Columbia 466
Manitoba 246
New Brunswick 112
Newfoundland and Labrador 28
Nova Scotia 183
Ontario 1,085
Prince Edward Island 63
Quebec 2,503
Saskatchewan 386
Territories 40

More than half of non-financial co-operatives operated in three sectors.
Table summary
This table displays the results of More than half of non-financial co-operatives operated in three sectors. . The information is grouped by Industry sector (appearing as row headers), Count of co-operatives, 2021 (appearing as column headers).
Industry sector Count of co-operatives, 2021
Real estate and rental and leasing 1,883 (33.6%)
Wholesale and retail trade 763 (13.6%)
Public Administration and other services 702 (12.5%)
Other 2,257 (40.3%)

While non-financial co-operatives employed 100,754 people, more than half of co-operatives had no employees.
Table summary
This table displays the results of While non-financial co-operatives employed 100. The information is grouped by Employment size group (appearing as row headers), Count of active cooperatives, 2021 (appearing as column headers).
Employment size group Count of active cooperatives, 2021
No employees 2,908
1-99 employees 2,522
100-499 employees 149
500 employees or more 26

Non-profits made up 63% of all non-financial co-operatives, earning 5% of all revenue.
Table summary
This table displays the results of Non-profits made up 63% of all non-financial co-operatives. The information is grouped by Non-profit status (appearing as row headers), Percent of active cooperatives, 2021 and Percent of revenue, 2021 (appearing as column headers).
Non-profit status Percent of active cooperatives, 2021 Percent of revenue, 2021
Non-profit 63% 5%

Growth of non-financial co-operatives continued through 2021.
Table summary
This table displays the results of Growth of non-financial co-operatives continued through 2021. 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (appearing as column headers).
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Assets (billions of dollars) 38.0 39.2 42.6 45.6 47.3

Sources: List of non-financial co-operatives provided by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Canada’s national, provincial and territorial co-operative registries. All other data are from Statistics Canada’s Linkable File Environment and Business Register.

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Copyright

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

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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