Life satisfaction in Canada, 2023

Release date: March 20, 2024
More information PDF version
Infographic: Life satisfaction in Canada, 2023
Description: Life satisfaction in Canada, 2023

Half of all Canadians reported a high level of life satisfaction.


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1 Percentage who reported high life satisfaction (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who reported high life satisfaction
Men 51%
Women 50%

Across Canada, Quebec has the highest proportion of people who reported high life satisfaction.


Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2 Percentage who reported high life satisfaction (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who reported high life satisfaction
Atlantic provinces 50%
Quebec 61%
Ontario 47%
Prairies 50%
British Columbia 46%

People in rural areas were more likely than those in urban areas to report high life satisfaction.


Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 Percentage who reported high life satisfaction (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who reported high life satisfaction
Urban 49%
Rural 59%

The older people get, the more likely they are to report high life satisfaction.


Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 4 Percentage who reported high life satisfaction (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who reported high life satisfaction
15 to 24 years 50%
25 to 34 years 44%
35 to 44 years 46%
45 to 54 years 48%
55 to 64 years 52%
65 years and over 60%

Of those who reported high life satisfaction…

  • 84% reported a strong sense of meaning and purpose
  • 63% reported excellent or very good self-rated health
  • 68% reported excellent or very good self-rated mental health

Life satisfaction differs among population groups.


Table 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 5 Percentage who reported high life satisfaction (appearing as column headers).
Percentage who reported high life satisfaction
Non-Indigenous, non-racialized individuals 54%
Racialized individuals 42%
Non-immigrants 53%
Immigrants 46%

In 2023, Canada ranked 11th among OECD countriesNote 1 for life satisfaction.


Table 6
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 6 Average life satisfaction score (appearing as column headers).
Average life satisfaction score
Finland 7.9
Iceland 7.6
Denmark 7.5
Switzerland 7.5
Netherlands 7.5
Luxembourg 7.4
Sweden 7.3
Germany 7.3
Norway 7.3
New Zealand 7.3
Canada 7.2
Austria 7.2
Israel 7.2
Australia 7.1
United States 7
Ireland 7
Czechia 6.9
Belgium 6.8
United Kingdom 6.8
France 6.7

Notes: The data reflect the responses of the population 15 years and older in Canada’s 10 provinces. Survey respondents were asked, “Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means “Very dissatisfied” and 10 means “Very satisfied,” how do you feel about your life as a whole right now?” In this infographic, high life satisfaction corresponds to a score of 8, 9 or 10.

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Social Survey (wave 10), July to September 2023; OECD, Better Life Index (accessed in 2023).

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.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2024

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

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

Date modified: