Data tables, 2016 Census

Distribution of Income Between Married Spouses or Common-law Partners (47) and Characteristics of Couples (19) for Married Spouses or Common-law Partners in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Metropolitan Areas, 2016 Census - 100% Data

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This table details distribution of income between married spouses or common-law partners and characteristics of couples for married spouses or common-law partners in private households in Alberta
Data quality
Distribution of income between married spouses or common-law partners (47) Characteristics of couple (19)
Total - Age of older person in couple 15 to 29 years 30 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 years and over Total - Total income of coupleFootnote 1 Under $20,000 (including loss) $20,000 to $29,999 $30,000 to $39,999 $40,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $59,999 $60,000 to $79,999 $80,000 to $99,999 $100,000 and over $100,000 to $124,999 $125,000 to $149,999 $150,000 to $199,999 $200,000 to $249,999 $250,000 and over
Total - Couples by distribution of income between married spouses or common-law partnersFootnote 2 953,325 70,345 514,855 192,795 175,330 953,325 25,180 20,915 46,645 46,810 51,565 114,720 118,935 528,565 135,755 107,955 135,870 64,670 84,320
Number of couples with total incomeFootnote 3 950,210 70,100 513,040 192,085 174,985 950,210 22,060 20,915 46,640 46,805 51,560 114,720 118,935 528,565 135,755 107,950 135,875 64,670 84,315
Median total income of couplesFootnote 4 109,304 87,355 123,667 118,182 72,646 109,304 11,315 25,657 35,185 45,030 55,065 70,227 89,905 155,736 111,902 136,598 170,828 220,195 333,950
Median total income of the higher income spouse 75,459 60,284 86,147 82,256 49,351 75,459 9,035 19,398 22,523 31,285 39,267 49,489 62,039 108,202 76,053 92,006 113,134 149,213 257,922
Median total income of the lower income spouseFootnote 5 28,589 24,125 32,970 30,757 20,039 28,589 343 5,869 12,801 13,661 15,613 20,113 27,767 48,548 35,972 45,085 57,677 72,067 86,663
Average share received by the higher total income recipient (%) 71.9 71.6 72.6 73.5 68.5 71.9 84.7 77.3 68.8 72.3 73.0 72.7 71.7 71.2 71.0 70.2 69.5 70.6 76.1
Median share received by the higher total income recipient (%) 69.3 69.3 70.1 71.2 66.1 69.3 94.4 77.0 63.2 70.0 72.0 71.2 69.2 68.3 68.1 67.3 66.2 67.4 76.2
A male is the higher total income recipientFootnote 6 693,900 53,230 377,740 135,570 127,365 693,900 10,925 12,425 31,255 30,170 34,570 81,570 87,455 405,540 102,275 81,975 102,520 50,710 68,055
A female is the higher total income recipientFootnote 7 256,305 16,865 135,305 56,520 47,620 256,305 11,130 8,495 15,390 16,635 16,995 33,150 31,480 123,030 33,475 25,980 33,350 13,960 16,260
Number of couples with two total income recipientsFootnote 8 906,760 67,145 490,590 177,825 171,205 906,760 14,555 17,855 43,235 43,440 48,330 109,085 114,370 515,895 131,790 105,535 133,205 63,285 82,070
Average share received by the higher total income recipient (%) 70.6 70.4 71.3 71.4 67.8 70.6 76.8 73.4 66.3 70.2 71.2 71.2 70.5 70.5 70.1 69.5 68.9 70.0 75.4
Median share received by the higher total income recipient (%) 68.2 68.3 69.0 69.1 65.4 68.2 78.2 72.0 62.1 68.1 70.2 70.1 68.2 68.0 67.3 67.0 66.0 67.1 75.3
One spouse/partner received 90% or more of couple's total income 142,630 9,005 87,565 32,100 13,960 142,630 4,865 4,100 4,770 5,835 6,440 15,635 17,280 83,705 20,340 14,455 17,600 9,920 21,390
One spouse/partner received 80% to 89.9% of couple's total income 121,705 9,425 65,155 24,285 22,845 121,710 2,070 2,475 3,810 5,735 7,845 18,420 16,760 64,590 16,900 12,150 14,135 7,805 13,600
One spouse/partner received 70% to 79.9% of couple's total income 158,440 12,955 82,985 29,995 32,510 158,440 2,050 3,005 5,780 8,540 10,365 20,825 19,640 88,240 21,900 18,860 22,865 10,585 14,030
One spouse/partner received 60% to 69.9% of couple's total income 207,960 16,680 110,715 38,455 42,105 207,960 2,240 3,505 10,365 10,490 10,995 24,100 26,180 120,100 31,175 26,930 33,635 13,655 14,695
One spouse/partner received 50% to 59.9% of couple's total income 276,020 19,080 144,170 52,985 59,785 276,020 3,325 4,765 18,510 12,835 12,690 30,115 34,525 159,260 41,470 33,140 44,970 21,320 18,360
A male is the higher total income recipientFootnote 9 664,555 51,290 364,045 124,780 124,445 664,555 7,550 10,840 29,355 28,135 32,485 77,530 84,010 394,645 99,115 79,900 100,165 49,455 66,005
A male received 90% or more of couple's total income 123,055 7,655 76,950 26,370 12,075 123,055 2,295 2,360 2,780 3,850 4,785 13,160 15,480 78,345 18,530 13,530 16,715 9,480 20,095
A male received 80% to 89.9% of couple's total income 101,505 8,265 55,750 18,820 18,665 101,505 1,070 1,595 2,590 4,265 6,105 14,990 14,065 56,815 14,270 10,535 12,810 7,155 12,050
A male received 70% to 79.9% of couple's total income 126,155 11,025 67,590 22,390 25,150 126,155 1,125 1,975 4,145 6,185 7,470 15,495 15,680 74,085 18,060 15,560 19,630 9,195 11,645
A male received 60% to 69.9% of couple's total income 151,475 12,850 81,575 26,495 30,560 151,480 1,310 2,170 7,670 6,750 6,985 16,630 18,940 91,025 23,660 20,415 25,215 10,555 11,180
A male received 50% to 59.9% of couple's total income 162,365 11,490 82,170 30,715 37,990 162,365 1,755 2,735 12,180 7,085 7,140 17,260 19,845 94,365 24,600 19,865 25,800 13,065 11,040
A female is the higher total income recipientFootnote 10 242,200 15,855 126,545 53,040 46,760 242,200 7,000 7,015 13,880 15,300 15,845 31,555 30,365 121,245 32,670 25,640 33,040 13,830 16,065
A female received 90% or more of couple's total income 19,575 1,345 10,610 5,730 1,885 19,570 2,575 1,740 1,990 1,985 1,655 2,470 1,795 5,355 1,815 925 885 435 1,295
A female received 80% to 89.9% of couple's total income 20,205 1,160 9,400 5,465 4,180 20,205 995 885 1,215 1,475 1,740 3,435 2,690 7,775 2,635 1,615 1,330 645 1,550
A female received 70% to 79.9% of couple's total income 32,285 1,930 15,395 7,605 7,360 32,285 925 1,025 1,635 2,355 2,895 5,330 3,955 14,155 3,840 3,300 3,235 1,395 2,385
A female received 60% to 69.9% of couple's total income 56,485 3,830 29,140 11,960 11,540 56,485 930 1,330 2,700 3,740 4,005 7,470 7,240 29,070 7,515 6,520 8,420 3,105 3,515
A female received 50% to 59.9% of couple's total income 113,660 7,585 62,000 22,275 21,795 113,660 1,570 2,030 6,335 5,750 5,550 12,850 14,675 64,895 16,870 13,280 19,175 8,250 7,320
Number of couples with market incomeFootnote 11 935,615 69,560 509,750 190,200 166,105 935,615 16,575 18,650 40,665 46,165 51,390 114,675 118,925 528,565 135,750 107,950 135,875 64,670 84,320
Average share received by the higher market income recipient (%) 75.5 74.4 75.3 75.0 77.4 75.5 87.5 85.2 84.0 81.9 80.3 77.9 75.2 72.6 73.5 72.0 70.6 71.4 76.5
Median share received by the higher market income recipient (%) 73.5 72.1 73.2 73.0 77.4 73.5 100.1 97.4 93.2 87.1 82.4 78.2 73.4 70.0 70.4 69.1 67.2 68.2 76.5
Number of couples with two market income recipientsFootnote 12 800,680 60,135 435,595 165,460 139,495 800,680 7,295 10,315 24,830 32,735 39,310 94,070 103,205 488,925 122,110 99,705 127,370 60,555 79,185
Average share received by the higher market income recipient (%) 71.4 70.3 71.0 71.2 73.1 71.4 71.6 73.2 73.7 74.5 74.2 73.1 71.5 70.4 70.5 69.6 68.7 69.4 74.9
Median share received by the higher market income recipient (%) 69.2 68.2 68.5 69.0 72.0 69.2 70.2 72.3 73.2 74.1 73.5 72.1 69.3 68.1 68.0 67.2 66.1 66.4 75.0
Number of couples with employment incomeFootnote 13 856,325 69,150 502,040 182,155 102,970 856,320 12,750 15,895 26,165 35,120 42,500 100,855 110,185 512,845 129,430 104,610 133,140 63,530 82,135
Average share received by the higher employment income recipient (%) 78.4 75.4 76.9 78.5 87.9 78.4 90.6 87.6 87.0 85.7 84.1 81.9 79.1 75.6 77.1 75.1 73.3 73.9 79.0
Median share received by the higher employment income recipient (%) 78.3 73.2 75.4 78.3 100.1 78.3 100.1 100.1 100.0 99.1 93.2 86.4 80.2 73.3 76.0 72.3 69.5 71.1 80.1
Number of couples with two employment income recipientsFootnote 14 633,950 57,755 398,140 133,235 44,820 633,950 4,010 6,960 12,220 18,140 24,625 65,735 80,475 421,785 101,630 86,745 113,945 53,990 65,470
Average share received by the higher employment income recipient (%) 70.9 70.5 70.9 70.6 72.2 70.9 70.1 71.5 72.1 72.4 72.5 72.3 71.4 70.4 70.8 70.0 68.8 69.3 73.7
Median share received by the higher employment income recipient (%) 68.5 68.3 69.0 68.3 70.3 68.5 68.4 70.3 71.2 71.3 71.3 71.1 69.4 68.1 68.3 67.4 66.2 66.4 73.2
Number of couples with government transfersFootnote 15 718,375 54,990 398,780 94,220 170,380 718,375 19,600 19,500 44,240 43,060 45,380 96,100 94,845 355,645 102,165 75,805 88,880 39,890 48,905
Average share received by the higher government transfers recipient (%) 88.2 89.0 96.0 92.1 67.6 88.2 89.4 84.1 73.7 79.1 81.2 83.8 87.5 93.6 90.6 93.0 95.3 96.5 95.6
Median share received by the higher government transfers recipient (%) 100.1 100.1 100.2 100.1 60.1 100.1 100.0 91.2 66.3 84.5 93.1 97.5 100.1 100.2 100.1 100.2 100.2 100.2 100.2
Number of couples with two government transfers recipientsFootnote 16 275,625 24,080 83,035 27,860 140,655 275,625 9,355 12,845 34,645 30,075 29,085 51,700 38,095 69,825 30,100 16,440 13,055 4,265 5,965
Average share received by the higher government transfers recipient (%) 69.4 74.9 81.0 73.3 60.8 69.3 77.8 75.8 66.4 70.0 70.7 69.9 68.9 67.5 68.1 67.5 67.9 67.1 63.7
Median share received by the higher government transfers recipient (%) 64.3 74.2 86.2 72.3 57.1 64.3 82.5 77.3 60.1 64.3 65.3 65.1 64.1 63.0 63.2 63.1 64.0 63.1 60.0

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not available for a specific reference period

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not applicable

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suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act

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too unreliable to be published

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Footnote(s)

Footnote 1

Total income - The sum of certain incomes (in cash and, in some circumstances, in kind) of the statistical unit during a specified reference period. The components used to calculate total income vary between:

- statistical units of social statistical programs such as persons, private households, census families and economic families;
- statistical units of business statistical programs such as enterprises, companies, establishments and locations;
- statistical units of farm statistical programs such as farm operator and farm family.

In the context of persons, total income refers to receipts from certain sources, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period.

In the context of census families, total income refers to receipts from certain sources of all of its family members, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period.

In the context of economic families, total income refers to receipts from certain sources of all of its family members, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period.

In the context of households, total income refers to receipts from certain sources of all household members, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period.

The monetary receipts included are those that tend to be of a regular and recurring nature. Receipts that are included as income are:

- employment income from wages, salaries, tips, commissions and net income from self-employment (for both unincorporated farm and non-farm activities);
- income from investment sources, such as dividends and interest on bonds, accounts, guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) and mutual funds;
- income from employer and personal pension sources, such as private pensions and payments from annuities and registered retirement income funds (RRIFs);
- other regular cash income, such as child support payments received, spousal support payments (alimony) received and scholarships;
- income from government sources, such as social assistance, child benefits, Employment Insurance benefits, Old Age Security benefits, Canada Pension Plan and Québec Pension Plan benefits and disability income.

Receipts excluded from this income definition are:

- one-time receipts, such as lottery winnings, gambling winnings, cash inheritances, lump-sum insurance settlements and tax-free savings account (TFSA) or registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) withdrawals;
- capital gains because they are not by their nature regular and recurring. It is further assumed that they are more relevant to the concept of wealth than the concept of income;
- employers' contributions to registered pension plans, Canada Pension Plan, Québec Pension Plan and Employment Insurance;
- voluntary inter-household transfers, imputed rent, goods and services produced for barter and goods produced for own consumption.

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Footnote 2

In the context of income distribution between couples, share refers to the proportion of a couple's combined income received by one of the spouses, and it is used to identify the higher income recipient among a couple.

When a couple jointly has a positive amount of income, but one of the spouses has a negative or zero income, the spouse with a negative or zero income is not considered to be an income recipient. His/her share of the couple's income is set to 0%, while the share of the other spouse is set to 100%.

When both spouses have the same amount of income, the share of the couple's income is 50% for both individuals and the higher income recipient spouse is randomly selected.

Couples with a negative or zero combined income are considered to have no income, and they are excluded from the calculations of any share statistics.

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Footnote 3

Total income - The sum of certain incomes (in cash and, in some circumstances, in kind) of the statistical unit during a specified reference period. The components used to calculate total income vary between:

- statistical units of social statistical programs such as persons, private households, census families and economic families;
- statistical units of business statistical programs such as enterprises, companies, establishments and locations;
- statistical units of farm statistical programs such as farm operator and farm family.

In the context of persons, total income refers to receipts from certain sources, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period.

In the context of census families, total income refers to receipts from certain sources of all of its family members, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period.

In the context of economic families, total income refers to receipts from certain sources of all of its family members, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period.

In the context of households, total income refers to receipts from certain sources of all household members, before income taxes and deductions, during a specified reference period.

The monetary receipts included are those that tend to be of a regular and recurring nature. Receipts that are included as income are:

- employment income from wages, salaries, tips, commissions and net income from self-employment (for both unincorporated farm and non-farm activities);
- income from investment sources, such as dividends and interest on bonds, accounts, guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) and mutual funds;
- income from employer and personal pension sources, such as private pensions and payments from annuities and registered retirement income funds (RRIFs);
- other regular cash income, such as child support payments received, spousal support payments (alimony) received and scholarships;
- income from government sources, such as social assistance, child benefits, Employment Insurance benefits, Old Age Security benefits, Canada Pension Plan and Québec Pension Plan benefits and disability income.

Receipts excluded from this income definition are:

- one-time receipts, such as lottery winnings, gambling winnings, cash inheritances, lump-sum insurance settlements and tax-free savings account (TFSA) or registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) withdrawals;
- capital gains because they are not by their nature regular and recurring. It is further assumed that they are more relevant to the concept of wealth than the concept of income;
- employers' contributions to registered pension plans, Canada Pension Plan, Québec Pension Plan and Employment Insurance;
- voluntary inter-household transfers, imputed rent, goods and services produced for barter and goods produced for own consumption.

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Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

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Footnote 4

Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

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Footnote 5

All values of income (negative, zero and positive amounts) are included in the calculation of this median statistic.

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Footnote 6

This count can include both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

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Footnote 7

This count can include both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

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Footnote 8

Refers to couples where both spouses have a positive amount of income.

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Footnote 9

This count can include both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

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Footnote 10

This count can include both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

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Footnote 11

Market income - The sum of employment income (wages, salaries and commissions, net self-employment income from farm or non-farm unincorporated business and/or professional practice), investment income, private retirement income (retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities, including those from registered retirement savings plans [RRSPs] and registered retirement income funds [RRIFs]) and other money income from market sources during the reference period. It is equivalent to total income minus government transfers. It is also referred to as income before transfers and taxes.

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Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

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Footnote 12

Refers to couples where both spouses have a positive amount of income.

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Footnote 13

Employment income - All income received as wages, salaries and commissions from paid employment and net self-employment income from farm or non-farm unincorporated business and/or professional practice during the reference period.

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Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

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Footnote 14

Refers to couples where both spouses have a positive amount of income.

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Footnote 15

Government transfers - All cash benefits received from federal, provincial, territorial or municipal governments during the reference period. It includes:

- Old Age Security pension, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor;
- retirement, disability and survivor benefits from Canada Pension Plan and Québec Pension Plan;
- benefits from Employment Insurance and Québec parental insurance plan;
- child benefits from federal and provincial programs;
- social assistance benefits;
- workers' compensation benefits;
- Working income tax benefit;
- Goods and services tax credit and harmonized sales tax credit;
- other income from government sources.

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Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

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Footnote 16

Refers to couples where both spouses have a positive amount of income.

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Data quality note(s) – Alberta

  • Incomplete enumeration flag
    Excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.
  • Short-form data quality flag
    Global non-response rate (GNR), short-form census questionnaire: 4.7%.
  • Short-form income data quality flag
    Default. Data quality index showing a short-form income non-response rate lower than 10%.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2016 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-400-X2016106.

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