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.

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

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

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

Canada CA: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.20 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 0.500 % in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.500 % for 2016. Canada CA: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.20 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.500 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.000 % in 1971 and a record low of 0.200 % in 2012. Canada CA: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.20 a Day: 2011 PPP: % 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: Poverty and Inequality. Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.20 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from around 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Canada CA: Poverty Gap at $3.20 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data was reported at 0.200 % in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.200 % for 2016. Canada CA: Poverty Gap at $3.20 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 0.200 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.000 % in 1971 and a record low of 0.100 % in 1987. Canada CA: Poverty Gap at $3.20 a Day: 2011 PPP: % 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: Poverty and Inequality. Poverty gap at $3.20 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $3.20 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.; ; World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from around 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

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

Out of all OECD countries, Cost Rica had the highest poverty rate as of 2022, at over 20 percent. The country with the second highest poverty rate was the United States, with 18 percent. On the other end of the scale, Czechia had the lowest poverty rate at 6.4 percent, followed by Denmark.

The significance of the OECD

The OECD, or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, was founded in 1948 and is made up of 38 member countries. It seeks to improve the economic and social well-being of countries and their populations. The OECD looks at issues that impact people’s everyday lives and proposes policies that can help to improve the quality of life.

Poverty in the United States

In 2022, there were nearly 38 million people living below the poverty line in the U.S.. About one fourth of the Native American population lived in poverty in 2022, the most out of any ethnicity. In addition, the rate was higher among young women than young men. It is clear that poverty in the United States is a complex, multi-faceted issue that affects millions of people and is even more complex to solve.

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

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

Join the Ontario Ministry of Finance for a free webinar to help you learn about tax credits, benefits, and other programs available to support Ontario seniors with a low income. Visit ontario.ca/TaxTalk to learn more.

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.

Canada CA: Poverty Gap at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % data was reported at 0.100 % in 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.100 % for 2018. Canada CA: Poverty Gap at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 0.200 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2019, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.600 % in 1971 and a record low of 0.100 % in 2019. Canada CA: Poverty Gap at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % 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: Poverty and Inequality. Poverty gap at $2.15 a day (2017 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $2.15 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Proportion of the population living: in a dwelling owned by some members of the household; in core housing need and; in suitable dwelling, proportion of the population living alone, poverty rate (MBM), prevalence of low income (LIM-AT) and (LIM-BT), knowledge of official languages, by visible minority and selected characteristics (gender, age group, first official language spoken, immigrant status, period of immigration, generation status and highest certificate, degree or diploma).

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.

Canada CA: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data was reported at 31.700 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 32.500 % for 2018. Canada CA: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data is updated yearly, averaging 33.200 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2019, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.300 % in 1971 and a record low of 31.000 % in 1989. Canada CA: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate 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: Poverty and Inequality. Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Population groups by shelter-cost-to-income ratio groups and core housing need for Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions. Includes tenure including presence of mortgage payments and subsidized housing (totals include farm operators), gender and primary household maintainer.

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