More Canadians are living alone than ever before
Solo living is the new norm in Canada. According to data from the 2021 census, about 4.4 million people, or roughly 15% of the population over the age of 15, reported living by themselves, the highest share on record. Data from the latest census also revealed that there were nearly 15 million households in Canada, of which about 3 out of 10 were one-person households, making it the most common type of living arrangement in the country, ahead of married couples without children (25.7%), and married couples with children (25.4%). Between 2016 and 2021, the number of one-person households increased by about 6.1%.
More than half of one-person households live in apartments
About 56% of one-person households resided in apartments within a duplex, low-rise, mid-rise, or high-rise building while about 26% resided in single-detached homes. The remainder lived in townhouses, semi-detached homes, mobile dwellings, and other single-attached houses. Homeownership varies by the type of dwelling. Homeownership was highest among those living in single-detached homes at around 85%. Whereas around 79% of those living in apartments rented.
Between 2011 and 2021, the total number of people living alone has increased across all age groups, except for those ages 45-54, which experienced a decline. Its share of those living alone was 17% in 2011 and dropped to 12% in 2021. Meanwhile, those between 65 and 74 years old saw its share increase the most going from 13.6% of those living alone in 2011 to about 20% in 2021.
Across Canada, more women live alone than men, but the trend is not consistent throughout all age groups. Among Canadians aged 15 to 45, more men live alone, but for those 55 and older, women are the majority. This may have something to do with women having longer life expectancy than men.
Solo-living is most prevalent in Quebec
In 2021, Quebec had the highest percentage of individuals over the age of 15 living alone at 19%, while Nunavut had the lowest at 8%. Between 2011 and 2021, Prince Edward Island saw the largest increase in the share of people living alone, rising by approximately 4.2 percentage points from 12.41% in 2011 to 16.68% in 2021. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia and Manitoba recorded decreases of 0.07 and 0.04 percentage points, respectively.
You may also be interested in…
Tax data from 2022 shows that the top 1% of earners had an income of at least $283,200, a 4.3% increase from $271,300 in 2021. Their average income was $586,900. This group earned 10.2% of all income in Canada and paid 22.1% of all income taxes.