In 2022, 9.9 percent of all Canadians were living in low income. Between 2000 and 2022, the percentage of population with low income experienced a decrease, reaching the lowest value in 2020. The highest share of Canadians with low income was recorded in 2015, with 14.5 percent of the total population.

Low Income Measures

The low income measures (LIMs) were developed by Statistics Canada in the 1990s. They, along with the low income cut-offs (LICOs) and the market basket measure (MBM), were created in order to measure and track the low income population of Canada. With low income measures, individuals are classified as being in low income if their income falls below fifty percent of the median adjusted household income. The median income is adjusted in order to reflect the differing financial needs of households based on the number of its members. The low income measures are a useful tool to compare low income populations between countries as they do not rely on an arbitrary standard of what constitutes the threshold for poverty. Statistics Canada insists that the low income measures are not meant to be representative of a poverty rate. The department has no measure which they define as a measurement of poverty in Canada. Latest data and trends In 2022, around 2.1 million people were living in low income families in Canada. This figure has been fluctuating over the years, both in absolute numbers and in proportion over the total population. More women than men were living in low income families in 2022, though the number of men in low income has risen at twice the rate as that of women. One of the more drastic changes has been the rise in the number of single individuals living in low income, increasing by more than 60 percent since 2000.

Number of persons in low income, low income rate and average gap ratio by age, sex and economic family type, annual.

Low income cut-offs (LICOs) before and after tax by community size and family size, in current dollars, annual.

In 2022, the number of persons under 18 years in economic families with low income in Canada was 888,000. Between 1976 and 2022, the figure dropped by 139,000, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

The number of persons in economic families with low income in Canada was 2.8 million in 2022. Between 1976 and 2022, the number rose by 370,000, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

In 2021, around 0.9 million people were living in low income families in Ontario. Ontario had the largest number of individuals living in low income households. Quebec and British Columbia followed with 504 thousand and 287 thousand, respectively.

Individual low-income status for census family characteristics (in couple, with and without children, one-parent families) by low-income measure (before and after tax) and age.

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.

In 2021, around 230 thousand children were living in low income, female lone-parent families in Canada. In addition, 389 thousand children were living with both their parents in low income households, representing the largest group among the different types of families.

This table contains 166 series, with data for years 1996 - 1996 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and is no longer being released.

In 2022,1.1 million women were living in low income families in Canada. Female individuals represented the largest population living in low income households compared to their male counterpart.

Individual low-income status for economic family characteristics (in couple, with and without children, one-parent families) by low-income measure (before and after tax).

Families of tax filers; After-tax low income status of census families based on Census Family Low Income Measure (CFLIM-AT), by family type and family composition (final T1 Family File; T1FF).

Characteristics of persons in low income families by low income lines.

Individual low-income status for economic family characteristics (in couple, with and without children, one-parent families) by low-income measure (before and after tax).

Families of tax filers; Before-tax and after-tax low income status (based on census family low income measures, LIM) by family type and family composition (final T1 Family File; T1FF).

Characteristics of persons in low income families by low income lines.

The economic environment represents the external conditions under which people are engaged in, and benefit from, economic activity. The indicators of the economic environment measure the ability of households to access goods and services important to quality of life.

This table contains 166 series, with data for years 1996 - 1996 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and is no longer being released.

Household low-income status using low-income measures (before and after tax) by household type (multigenerational, couple, lone parent, with and without children), age of members, number of earners, and year.