Number and percentage of persons based on the level of household food insecurity, by age group and sex, for 2004 only.

Number and percentage of persons by household food security status, age group, sex, visible minority group, Indigenous group and immigration status, Canada and provinces.

Canada CA: Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity in the Population: % of population data was reported at 1.000 % in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.900 % for 2019. Canada CA: Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity in the Population: % of population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.650 % from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2020, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.000 % in 2020 and a record low of 0.600 % in 2017. Canada CA: Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity in the Population: % of population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. The percentage of people in the population who live in households classified as severely food insecure. A household is classified as severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has reported to have been exposed, at times during the year, to several of the most severe experiences described in the FIES questions, such as to have been forced to reduce the quantity of the food, to have skipped meals, having gone hungry, or having to go for a whole day without eating because of a lack of money or other resources.;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO);;

Number and percentage of persons by household food security status and economic family type, Canada and provinces.

Older individuals in Canada are less likely than their younger counterparts to experience any form of food insecurity. Only *** percent of those 75 years and older experienced severe food insecurity in 2021. Children between *** and 11 years of age are most likely to experience any food insecurity.

Household food insecurity, by age group and sex, Canada, provinces, territories, health regions (2013 boundaries) and peer groups.

Indigenous people in Canada are most affected by severe food insecurity. With *** percent of all indigenous people experiencing severe food insecurity, this ethnicity leads all others by *** percentage points in this category. Furthermore, the group is also the overall least food-secure group at **** percent.

Canada CA: Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity in the Population: % of population data was reported at 7.700 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.500 % for 2020. Canada CA: Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity in the Population: % of population data is updated yearly, averaging 5.800 % from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2021, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.700 % in 2021 and a record low of 5.000 % in 2017. Canada CA: Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity in the Population: % of population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. The percentage of people in the population who live in households classified as moderately or severely food insecure. A household is classified as moderately or severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has reported to have been exposed, at times during the year, to low quality diets and might have been forced to also reduce the quantity of food they would normally eat because of a lack of money or other resources.;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO);;

Alberta was the Canadian province with the highest level of severe food insecurity in 2021. Of all Albertan households, *** percent experienced severe food insecurity. Additionally, *** and *** percent of Albertan households experienced moderate and marginal food insecurity, respectively.

Household food insecurity measures, by presence of children in the household, Canada, provinces and territories.

Number and percentage of persons based on the level of household food insecurity, by age group and sex, for 2004 only.

🇨🇦 Canada English Household food insecurity, by age group and sex, Canada, provinces, territories, health regions (2013 boundaries) and peer groups.

Eradicating household food insecurity is essential to the articulated vision of a national food policy that aims to promote healthy living and safe food for families across the country. Household food insecurity refers to the insecure or inadequate access to food due to financial constraints. Despite federal commitments to improve the situation, food insecurity in Canada increased between 2007-08 and 2011-12. It currently affects more than four million Canadians, and is particularly grave in Indigenous communities. Food insecurity takes a toll on individuals’ health and well-being, and it is a burden on our healthcare system. The social epidemiology of household food insecurity shows it to be inextricably linked to the social and economic circumstances of households. Federal and provincial policy interventions that improve the financial circumstances of very low income households have yielded reductions of up to 50 percent in household food insecurity prevalence and severity. Yet, prevalence rates remain high. A national food policy represents an invaluable opportunity to address food insecurity in Canada. To do so, this policy must transcend the conventional boundaries of agriculture and agri-food. Addressing food insecurity requires the integration of policy actions across the three levels of government. In addition, performance targets must be established, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms implemented, to ensure that policies and programs meant to address food insecurity actually have a meaningful impact.

Household food insecurity measures, by living arrangement, Canada, provinces and territories.

Household characteristics of food insecure and secure children in Ontario, Canada.

Maternal characteristics of food insecure and secure children in Ontario, Canada.

In northern Canada, the Inuit’s transition from a culturally traditional to a Western diet has been accompanied by chronic poverty and provoked high levels of food insecurity, resulting in numerous negative health outcomes. This study examines national coverage of Nunavut food insecurity as presented in two of Canada’s most widely read newspapers: The Globe and Mail and National Post. A critical discourse analysis (CDA) was employed to analyze 24 articles, 19 from The Globe and Mail and 5 from National Post. Analysis suggests national print media propagates the Inuit’s position as The Other by selectively reporting on social issues such as hunger, poverty and income. Terms such as “Northerners” and “Southerners” are frequently used to categorically separate Nunavut from the rest of Canada and Inuit-driven efforts to resolve their own issues are widely ignored. This effectively portrays the Inuit as helpless and the territory as a failure, and allows Canadians to maintain colonialist views of Inuit inferiority and erroneously assume Federal initiatives effectively address Northern food insecurity.

[ARCHIVED] Community Counts data is retained for archival purposes only, such as research, reference and record-keeping. This data has not been maintained or updated. Users looking for the latest information should refer to Statistics Canada’s Census Program (https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/index-eng.cfm?MM=1) for the latest data, including detailed results about Nova Scotia. This table reports the connection between financial resources and availability of food. Geographies available: district health authorities

Food insecurity, the inadequate or insecure access to food because of financial constraints, is an important public health concern, associated with poor physical and mental health. Recent research among post-secondary students shows that it also has consequences for academic performance; food insecure students are more likely to have lower grades and to drop out. This qualitative study aimed to describe the experiences of Queen’s University students who didn’t have enough money for food or who worried about having enough money for food. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 undergraduate, 10 graduate and 5 professional students. Participants included 14 students of colour and 2 Indigenous students. All described chronic food insecurity during their time at Queen’s, including 9 who experienced severe food insecurity, skipping meals and going hungry. Most participants cycled between different levels of food insecurity (severe, moderate, and marginal) depending on the availability of resources, though a few were severely or moderately food insecure on an ongoing basis. None escaped worry and anxiety about being able to properly feed themselves. Our sampling strategy netted a more diverse set of students than previously described in the literature on post-secondary student food insecurity, including first-generation Canadians, international students, Indigenous students, law students and undergraduate students transitioning to independent living. Our results demonstrate the human costs of market approaches to post-secondary education and lend support to the growing campaign in Canada for a basic income that includes young people.

The syntax and data help to replicate tables and figures from "From the Food Mail Program to Nutrition North Canada: The Impact on Food Insecurity among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Families with Children". Please see the ReadMe file for additional details.