The total number of single parent families in Canada was 1.84 million in 2024. Between 2006 and 2024, the total number rose by 370,000, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

This statistic shows the amount of lone parent families in Canada in 2022, distinguished by province and territory. In 2022, about 749,769 lone parent families were living in Ontario.

This table contains 519 series, with data for years 1996 - 1996 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and is no longer being released. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (173 items: Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services St. John's Region, Newfoundland and Labrador; Health and Community Services Eastern Region, Newfoundland and Labrador; ...); Lone-parent families (3 items: Total lone-parent families; Male lone-parent families; Female lone-parent families).

Symbol legend: .. not available for a specific reference period Table Corrections: Date Note On August 11, 2021, a correction was made to the values associated with the total income concept for 2019. Footnotes: 1 The data source for this table is the final version of the T1 Family File, created by the Centre for Income and Socio-Economic Well-being Statistics of Statistics Canada. Because they are based on a different methodology, estimates of the number of individuals and census families presented in this table differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. Information on the data source, the historical availability, definitions of the terms used, and the geographies available can be found at Technical Reference Guide for the Annual Income Estimates for Census Families Individuals and Seniors - opens in a new browser window." 2 Families are comprised of: 1) couples (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living in the same dwelling with or without children, and 2) single parents (male or female) living with one or more children. Persons who are not matched to a family become persons not in census families. They may be living alone, with a family to whom they are related, with a family to whom they are unrelated or with other persons not in census families. Beginning in 2001, same-sex couples reporting as couples are counted as couple families. 3 A couple family consists of a couple living together (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living at the same address with or without children. Beginning in 2001, same-sex couples reporting as couples are counted as couple families. 4 A lone-parent family is a family with only one parent, male or female, and with at least one child. 5 This table should only be used in conjunction with income statistics produced using the T1 Family File. Because the counts available in this table are based on a different methodology, the family and person counts will differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. 6 The Census Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) is used for data dissemination of the census metropolitan areas and the census agglomerations: from 1997 to 2001, SGC 1996; from 2002 to 2006, SGC 2001; from 2007 to 2011, SGC 2006; from 2012 to 2015, SGC 2011; as of 2016, SGC 2016. Please note that census agglomerations were introduced in this CANSIM table in 2008. 7 Children are tax filers or imputed persons in couple and lone-parent families. Tax filing children do not live with their spouse, have no children of their own and live with their parent(s). Most children are identified from the Canada Child Tax Benefit file, a provincial births file or a previous T1 family file. 8 Characteristics such as age are as of December 31 of the reference year.

Lone parents are not a new phenomenon in Canada, however an increase of 33% has been observed between 1986 and 1996. Today there are approximately 1 138 000 lone-parent families, and families headed by women continue to outnumber those headed by men by four to one, or 83% of all lone-parent families. Lone parent families make up 22% o all families with children.

This table is part of a series of tables that present a portrait of Canada based on the various census topics. The tables range in complexity and levels of geography. Content varies from a simple overview of the country to complex cross-tabulations; the tables may also cover several censuses.

This service shows the median after-tax income of lone parent families in 2015 for Canada by 2016 census division. The data is from the data table Household Income Statistics (3) and Household Type Including Census Family Structure (11) for Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census - 100% Data, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-400-X2016099. This data pertains to households with one lone-parent census family without other persons in the household. In the context of census families, total income refers to receipts from certain sources of all of its family members, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period. After-tax income refers to total income less income taxes of the statistical unit during a specified reference period. The median income of a specified group is the amount that divides the income distribution of that group into two halves. For additional information refer to the 2016 Census Dictionary for 'Total income', 'After-tax income' and 'Census family'. For additional information refer to the 2016 Census Dictionary for 'Total income', 'After-tax income' and 'Census family'. To have a cartographic representation of the ecumene with this socio-economic indicator, it is recommended to add as the first layer, the “NRCan - 2016 population ecumene by census division” web service, accessible in the data resources section below.

This statistic shows the total number of female lone parents (single mothers) in Canada in 2020, distinguished by their age. In 2020, about 41,910 single mothers aged between 0 and 24 years were living in Canada.

This table is part of a series of tables that present a portrait of Canada based on the various census topics. The tables range in complexity and levels of geography. Content varies from a simple overview of the country to complex cross-tabulations; the tables may also cover several censuses.

Families of tax filers; Single-earner and dual-earner census families by number of children (final T1 Family File; T1FF).

The majority of lone parent families in Canada are headed by women, where they outnumber those headed by men four to one. The 1996 Census data indicate that these families increased by 20% between 1991 and 1996 as compared to families headed by men (a 16% increase). The overall proportion of lone parents who had never married increased from 14% in 1986 to 22% in 1996. In 1996, 24% of all female lone parents reported a marital status of "single".

This service shows the median after-tax income of lone parent families in 2015 for Canada by 2016, census subdivision. The data is from the data table Household Income Statistics (3) and Household Type Including Census Family Structure (11) for Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2016 Census - 100% Data, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-400-X2016099. This data pertains to households with one lone-parent census family without other persons in the household. In the context of census families, total income refers to receipts from certain sources of all of its family members, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period. After-tax income refers to total income less income taxes of the statistical unit during a specified reference period. The median income of a specified group is the amount that divides the income distribution of that group into two halves.

Lone parents are not a new phenomenon in Canada, however an increase of 33% has been observed between 1986 and 1996. Today there are approximately 1 138 000 lone-parent families, and families headed by women continue to outnumber those headed by men by four to one, or 83% of all lone-parent families. Lone parent families make up 22% o all families with children.

Footnotes: 1 The data source for this table is the final version of the T1 Family File, created by the Centre for Income and Socio-Economic Well-being Statistics of Statistics Canada. Because they are based on a different methodology, estimates of the number of individuals and census families presented in this table differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. Information on the data source, the historical availability, definitions of the terms used, and the geographies available can be found at Technical Reference Guide for the Annual Income Estimates for Census Families Individuals and Seniors - opens in a new browser window."2 Families are comprised of: 1) couples (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living in the same dwelling with or without children, and 2) single parents (male or female) living with one or more children. Persons who are not matched to a family become persons not in census families. They may be living alone, with a family to whom they are related, with a family to whom they are unrelated or with other persons not in census families. Beginning in 2001, same-sex couples reporting as couples are counted as couple families. 3 Characteristics such as age are as of December 31 of the reference year. 4 A couple family consists of a couple living together (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living at the same address with or without children. Beginning in 2001, same-sex couples reporting as couples are counted as couple families. 5 Children are tax filers or imputed persons in couple and lone-parent families. Tax filing children do not live with their spouse, have no children of their own and live with their parent(s). Most children are identified from a file pertaining to Federal Child Benefits, a provincial births file or a previous T1 Family File. 6 A lone-parent family is a family with only one parent, male or female, and with at least one child. 7 This table should only be used in conjunction with income statistics produced using the T1 Family File. Because the counts available in this table are based on a different methodology, the family and person counts will differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. 8 The Census Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) is used for data dissemination of the census metropolitan areas and the census agglomerations: from 1997 to 2001, SGC 1996; from 2002 to 2006, SGC 2001; from 2007 to 2011, SGC 2006; from 2012 to 2015, SGC 2011; as of 2016, SGC 2016. Please note that census agglomerations were introduced in this CANSIM table in 2008.

This table is part of a series of tables that present a portrait of Canada based on the various census topics. The tables range in complexity and levels of geography. Content varies from a simple overview of the country to complex cross-tabulations; the tables may also cover several censuses.

This table is part of a series of tables that present a portrait of Canada based on the various census topics. The tables range in complexity and levels of geography. Content varies from a simple overview of the country to complex cross-tabulations; the tables may also cover several censuses.

This table is part of a series of tables that present a portrait of Canada based on the various census topics. The tables range in complexity and levels of geography. Content varies from a simple overview of the country to complex cross-tabulations; the tables may also cover several censuses.

This table is part of a series of tables that present a portrait of Canada based on the various census topics. The tables range in complexity and levels of geography. Content varies from a simple overview of the country to complex cross-tabulations; the tables may also cover several censuses.

This table is part of a series of tables that present a portrait of Canada based on the various census topics. The tables range in complexity and levels of geography. Content varies from a simple overview of the country to complex cross-tabulations; the tables may also cover several censuses.

COVID-19 - Government income support and benefits of census family units by census family type and number of children (1, 2, 3, 4)Frequency: OccasionalTable: 11-10-0100-01Release date: 2023-07-12Geography: Canada, Province or territory, Census metropolitan area, Census agglomeration, Census metropolitan area part, Census agglomeration partFootnotes: 1 The data source for this table is the final version of the T1 Family File, created by the Centre for Income and Socio-Economic Well-being Statistics of Statistics Canada. Because they are based on a different methodology, estimates of the number of individuals and census families presented in this table differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography. Information on the data source, the historical availability, definitions of the terms used, and the geographies available can be found at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/72-212-X" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Technical Reference Guide for the Annual Income Estimates for Census Families2 This table should only be used in conjunction with income statistics produced using the T1 Family File. Because the counts available in this table are based on a different methodology, the family and person counts will differ from estimates produced by the Centre for Demography.3 COVID Benefits are benefits provided by the federal and provincial government during the pandemic to support individuals and families in 2020. More information is available from the https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/72-212-X" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Technical Reference Guide for the Annual Income Estimates for Census Families4 Statistics are calculated based on families who received COVID benefits only.5 The Census Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) is used for data dissemination of the census metropolitan areas and the census agglomerations: from 2016 to 2020, SGC 2016; as of 2021, SGC 2021. 6 Census families are comprised of: 1) couples (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living in the same dwelling with or without children, and 2) single parents (male or female) living with one or more children. Persons who are not matched to a family become persons not in census families. They may be living alone, with a family to whom they are related, with a family to whom they are unrelated or with other persons not in census families.7 A couple family consists of a couple living together (married or common-law, including same-sex couples) living at the same address with or without children.8 A lone-parent family is a family with only one parent, male or female, and with at least one child.9 A person not in census families is an individual who is not part of a census family, couple family or lone-parent family. Persons not in census families may live with their married children or with their children who have children of their own. They may be living with a family to whom they are related or unrelated. They may also be living alone or with other non-family persons.10 Children are tax filers or imputed persons in couple and lone-parent families. Tax filing children do not live with their spouse, have no children of their own and live with their parent(s). Most children are identified from the Canada Child Tax Benefit file, a provincial births file or a previous T1 family file.11 Median is the middle number in a group of numbers. Where a median income, for example, is given as $26,000, it means that exactly half of the incomes reported are greater than or equal to $26,000, and that the other half is less than or equal to the median amount. 12 Total income is income from all sources. As of 2020, COVID-19 - Government income support and benefits are included in income estimates. A detailed definition of what is included in total income is available from the Technical Reference Guide for the Preliminary Estimates from the T1 Family File (T1FF) - opens in a new browser window."