Canada at a Glance, 2022
Women

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Women accounted for 50.9% of Canada’s total population aged 15 and older in private households in 2021.^Note
In 2021, more than 1 in 4 (25.8%) women aged 15 and older were part of the racialized population, more than one-quarter (27.1%) were immigrants, and 4.5% were Indigenous.^Note^Note^Note
Women in Canada are among the most educated in the world, with more than two-thirds (68%) of women aged 25 to 64 years having a college or university qualification in 2021, compared with an average of 44% among women in countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).^Note

Table 9
Educational attainment of women aged 25 to 64 years, Canada and OECD, 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Educational attainment of women aged 25 to 64 years Canada, OECD, Females and Males, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	Females	Males	Females	Males
	Canada		OECD
	percent
Below upper secondary	6	8	19	21
Upper secondary and post-secondary and non-tertiary	26	36	38	43
Tertiary education	68	56	44	36
Note: Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates for Canada are derived using results from the provinces. LFS results for the territories are not included in the national estimates. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 37-10-0130-01 Educational attainment of the population aged 25 to 64, by age group and sex, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada, provinces and territories.

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Over the past decades, women’s participation in the labour force has increased. In 2021, more than 4 in 5 (83.9%) women aged 25 to 54 years participated in the labour force, compared to about half (52.3%) of women in this age group in 1976.^Note

Table 10
Labour force participation rate of women aged 25 to 54 years, 1976 to 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Labour force participation rate of women aged 25 to 54 years Females and Males, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	percent
	Females	Males
1976	52.3	94.5
1981	62.6	94.6
1986	70.2	93.6
1991	75.9	92.4
1996	76.0	90.8
2001	79.1	91.1
2006	81.0	91.0
2011	81.9	90.6
2016	81.9	90.7
2021	83.9	91.5
Note: Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates for Canada are derived using results from the provinces. LFS results for the territories are not included in the national estimates. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0327-01 Labour force characteristics by sex and detailed age group, annual.

To learn more

Sex, gender and sexual orientation statistics (statcan.gc.ca)

Notes

Footnote 1.

Statistics Canada. The Daily — Canada is the first country to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people (statcan.gc.ca).

Return to note 1 referrer

Footnote 2.

Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0308-01 Visible minority by immigrant status and period of immigration: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts.

Return to note 2 referrer

Footnote 3.

Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0264-01 Indigenous identity by Registered or Treaty Indian status and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories.

Return to note 3 referrer

Footnote 4.

Given that the non-binary population is small, data aggregation to a two-category gender variable is sometimes necessary to protect the confidentiality of responses provided. In these cases, individuals in the category "non-binary persons" are distributed into the other two gender categories. Here, the category "women" includes women, as well as some non-binary persons. A fact sheet on gender concepts, Filling the gaps: Information on gender in the 2021 Census, is available.

Return to note 4 referrer

Footnote 5.

These data are based on sex of persons. Although sex and gender refer to two difference concepts, the terminology related to gender is used throughout this document to make it easier for readers.

Return to note 5 referrer

Footnote 6.

These data are based on sex of persons. Although sex and gender refer to two difference concepts, the terminology related to gender is used throughout this document to make it easier for readers.

Return to note 6 referrer

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Canada at a Glance, 2022
Women