Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population
Canada
14.5
In 2021, 14.5% of adults aged 15 and over living in private households were living alone, compared to 13.9% in 2016.
64.6
Among census families in 2021, 64.6% were married couples, 19.0% were common-law couples and 16.4% were one-parent families.
95,435
In 2021, there were 95,435 same-gender couples and 32,205 transgender or non-binary couples.
11.7
In 2021, among couple families with children, 11.7% were stepfamilies.
35.1
In 2021, the proportion of young adults aged 20 to 34 that were living with at least one parent was 35.1%, compared to 35.1% in 2016.
Distribution (in percent) of children aged 0 to 14 in census families by family structure, Canada, 2016 and 2021
Proportion (in percent) of adults in private households that are in a couple (married or common law), by age group, Canada, 2001, 2011 and 2021
Proportion (in percent) of couple families that have children, Canada, provinces and territories, 2016 and 2021
Distribution (in percent) of households by household type, Canada, 2011, 2016 and 2021
Distribution (in percent) of households by household type, Canada, 2011, 2016 and 2021
Household type
2011 (%) 2016 (%)
2021 (%)
Total – Private households
100.0 100.0
100.0
One-census-family households without additional persons: couple without children
25.5 25.8
25.6
One-census-family households without additional persons: couple with children
27.6 26.5
25.3
One-census-family households without additional persons: one-parent family
8.9 8.9
8.7
Multigenerational households
2.7 2.9
2.9
Multiple-census-family households
0.6 0.6
0.6
One-census-family households with additional persons
3.0 3.0
3.0
Two-or-more-person non-census-family households
4.1 4.1
4.4
One-person households
27.6 28.2
29.3
Marital status, Canada, 2021
| Household type | 2011 (%) | 2016 (%) | 2021 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total – Private households | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| One-census-family households without additional persons: couple without children | 25.5 | 25.8 | 25.6 |
| One-census-family households without additional persons: couple with children | 27.6 | 26.5 | 25.3 |
| One-census-family households without additional persons: one-parent family | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Multigenerational households | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Multiple-census-family households | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| One-census-family households with additional persons | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Two-or-more-person non-census-family households | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.4 |
| One-person households | 27.6 | 28.2 | 29.3 |
In Canada in 2021, 56.9% of the total population aged 15 and over were currently in a couple; either married (44.3%) or living with a common-law partner (12.6%).
The remaining 43.1% were not currently in a married or common-law union.
Distribution (in percentage) of marital status, total population aged 15 and older, Canada, 2021
Note: Percentages may not total 100 percent due to random rounding.
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