Poverty and low-income statistics by visible minority group, Indigenous group and immigration status, Canada and provinces.

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.

Poverty and low-income statistics by disability status, age group, sex and economic family type, Canada, annual.

If you’re a senior with low income, you may qualify for monthly Guaranteed Annual Income System payments.

Maximum payment and allowable private income amounts for the period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 are:

• $90 monthly for single seniors (maximum monthly payment amount), your annual private income must be less than $4,320
• $180 monthly for senior couples (maximum monthly payment amount), your annual private income must be less than $8,640

The data is organized by private income levels. GAINS payments are provided on top of the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments you may receive from the federal government.

Learn more about the Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System

This data is related to The Retirement Income System in Canada

Market Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds for the reference family by MBM region and base year. Total thresholds as well as thresholds for the food, clothing, transportation, shelter and other expenses components are presented, in current and constant dollars, annual.

More information is available on Ottawa Public Health's food insecurity webpage.Accuracy:Food affordability monitoring is done in accordance with the Monitoring Food Affordability Reference Document, 2018 and a standardized protocol developed by Public Health Ontario and Ontario Dietitians in Public Health.The local cost of the Nutritious Food Basket and the cost of rent are compared with various individual and family incomes to determine how affordable food is in Ottawa. In 2024, 10 urban/suburban and 2 rural grocery stores were selected in the costing sample across Ottawa to conduct the Nutritious Food Basket survey. A mixture of in-person and online costing was used. The 61 food items comprised in the Nutritious Food Basket is based on Canada’s food guide. Canada’s food guide is not inclusive of all religious and cultural groups, and they do not include traditional Indigenous foods and food procurement practices. OPH acknowledges that this is a significant limitation of the data collection.In 2024, there were 2 sources of housing used. Presented are 1) rental rates from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Ontario Rental Market Report, providing an average of current rental costs paid by tenants including purpose-built rental apartments and rental townhouses; and 2) rental rates from the 2024 Rentals.ca Annual Report, based on available units from both primary and secondary rental markets including basement apartments, condominiums, townhouses, semi-detached and single houses. The Rentals.ca data are based on the asking rates of available (vacant) units only and reflect ongoing trends in the rental market. Update Frequency: Annual Attributes:Refer to the references found in Document 1 (2024 Income Scenarios using CMHC Housing Cost Data) and Document 2 (2024 Income Scenarios using Rentals.ca Housing Cost Data). Contact: Karina Kwong

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

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

Low income statistics by age, sex and economic family type, annual.

Low income measure (LIM) thresholds by household size for market income, total income and after-tax income, in current and constant dollars, annual.