In 2022, there were far more widowed women living in Canada than there were widowed men. In that year, there were about 1.59 million widowed women and about 472;170 widowed men living in Canada.

In 2006, 49.4% of males and 46.5% of females aged 15 years and over were legally married (and not separated), while 2.7% of the males and 3.2% of the females were separated, but still legally married. The male and female proportions for divorced people were 7.2% and 8.8% respectively. The gender gaps in the widowed and never married categories were larger: 2.5% of males and 9.7% of females were widowed while 38.2% of males, but only 31.8% of females were never legally married. In the case of the never married population 15 years of age and over, the highest proportions occurred in Quebec (46.8% of men and 40.0% of women), and the three territories (Yukon: 46.6% of men and 40.7% of women; Northwest Territories: 54.4% of men and 49.4% of women; and Nunavut: 63.4% of men and 59.2% of women). On the other hand, the sexual divergence of rates between males and females never legally married was highest in Alberta (37.7% of males versus 30.4% for females or a 7.3% difference) and Saskatchewan (36.6% of males versus 29.3% for females or a 7.3% spread). For the widowed population, this disparity was most pronounced for Saskatchewan (2.7% widowers versus 11.6% widows or an almost 9% difference). The map shows by census division the marital status of the population 15 years of age and over by gender.

In 2006, 49.4% of males and 46.5% of females aged 15 years and over were legally married (and not separated), while 2.7% of the males and 3.2% of the females were separated, but still legally married. The male and female proportions for divorced people were 7.2% and 8.8% respectively. The gender gaps in the widowed and never married categories were larger: 2.5% of males and 9.7% of females were widowed while 38.2% of males, but only 31.8% of females were never legally married. In the case of the never married population 15 years of age and over, the highest proportions occurred in Quebec (46.8% of men and 40.0% of women), and the three territories (Yukon: 46.6% of men and 40.7% of women; Northwest Territories: 54.4% of men and 49.4% of women; and Nunavut: 63.4% of men and 59.2% of women). On the other hand, the sexual divergence of rates between males and females never legally married was highest in Alberta (37.7% of males versus 30.4% for females or a 7.3% difference) and Saskatchewan (36.6% of males versus 29.3% for females or a 7.3% spread). For the widowed population, this disparity was most pronounced for Saskatchewan (2.7% widowers versus 11.6% widows or an almost 9% difference). The map shows by census division the marital status of the population 15 years of age and over by gender.

In 2022, there were more single males living in Canada than single women. In that year, there were 9.67 million single men, and 8.6 single women in Canada. In comparison, there were far more widowed women than men, with 1.59 million widowed women and 472,170 widowed men in Canada.

In general, in most regions of Canada there are more females than males and this trend is particularly evident in areas with higher proportions of the population who are elderly. The preponderance of females in the older age groups is due to their higher life expectancy compared to males. In 2006, Saskatchewan had the highest proportion (17.1%) of the female population that was 65 years and over, while Alberta (11.9%), and the three territories (7.2% for Yukon, 4.9% for the Northwest Territories, and 2.6% for Nunavut) had the lowest proportions. The map shows by census subdivision the marital status of the population 15 years of age and over by gender.

Annual population estimates by marital status or legal marital status, age and sex, Canada, provinces and territories.