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

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 Canada

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 couple^Footnote 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 partners^Footnote 2	8,227,925	461,000	3,947,405	1,801,965	2,017,555	8,227,920	264,820	335,815	589,455	590,695	624,705	1,252,935	1,143,795	3,425,705	1,122,985	780,815	829,465	320,595	371,845
Number of couples with total income^Footnote 3	8,217,020	460,190	3,941,890	1,798,835	2,016,100	8,217,020	253,915	335,815	589,455	590,695	624,705	1,252,935	1,143,795	3,425,700	1,122,985	780,815	829,465	320,595	371,840
Median total income of couples^Footnote 4	87,688	68,524	103,436	92,304	62,425	87,688	11,932	26,696	34,969	45,090	55,016	69,910	89,599	142,892	111,481	136,257	169,443	219,351	330,431
Median total income of the higher income spouse	59,121	45,202	69,265	63,335	42,684	59,121	9,085	17,777	22,859	31,467	38,623	47,513	58,966	96,610	72,538	87,617	107,415	142,677	250,639
Median total income of the lower income spouse^Footnote 5	25,015	21,079	31,598	25,531	17,504	25,015	759	8,038	11,947	13,452	16,232	22,041	30,711	49,310	39,404	48,889	62,523	78,606	90,111
Average share received by the higher total income recipient (%)	70.0	69.2	69.9	72.6	68.3	70.0	83.2	72.5	69.3	72.1	72.0	70.6	69.1	68.3	68.3	67.4	66.5	68.0	74.9
Median share received by the higher total income recipient (%)	67.1	66.2	66.3	69.5	66.2	67.1	89.5	68.4	65.4	70.2	70.5	68.3	66.0	65.1	65.1	64.3	63.1	64.4	74.4
A male is the higher total income recipient^Footnote 6	5,705,065	321,050	2,657,605	1,227,490	1,498,915	5,705,065	146,395	217,155	408,255	388,850	420,845	863,255	797,150	2,463,165	795,490	550,470	589,255	240,085	287,875
A female is the higher total income recipient^Footnote 7	2,511,955	139,140	1,284,290	571,340	517,185	2,511,955	107,520	118,660	181,195	201,845	203,865	389,680	346,650	962,535	327,500	230,345	240,210	80,515	83,970
Number of couples with two total income recipients^Footnote 8	7,889,570	441,965	3,792,420	1,677,580	1,977,600	7,889,570	179,230	305,115	562,385	562,575	596,645	1,206,800	1,110,880	3,365,940	1,100,030	768,425	818,375	315,660	363,455
Average share received by the higher total income recipient (%)	68.8	67.9	68.7	70.6	67.7	68.8	76.1	69.7	67.8	70.7	70.7	69.5	68.2	67.8	67.6	66.9	66.1	67.5	74.3
Median share received by the higher total income recipient (%)	66.1	65.3	65.4	68.1	66.0	66.1	77.0	65.4	64.5	69.2	69.4	67.4	65.2	64.5	64.4	64.2	63.0	64.2	74.1
One spouse/partner received 90% or more of couple's total income	925,520	41,390	476,460	271,065	136,605	925,525	52,235	57,810	62,415	72,585	68,115	130,100	118,775	363,485	112,085	68,135	69,275	32,800	81,180
One spouse/partner received 80% to 89.9% of couple's total income	967,620	50,560	432,495	218,290	266,280	967,620	29,540	30,760	50,880	79,160	94,775	184,345	140,670	357,485	119,460	70,875	70,885	33,350	62,915
One spouse/partner received 70% to 79.9% of couple's total income	1,394,705	80,915	628,935	287,075	397,780	1,394,705	28,875	42,720	93,850	122,145	133,555	229,815	184,170	559,570	178,875	129,555	132,650	52,735	65,760
One spouse/partner received 60% to 69.9% of couple's total income	1,970,390	119,140	949,710	390,870	510,670	1,970,390	28,085	58,030	160,535	138,640	142,710	292,775	275,120	874,495	295,005	218,665	213,240	78,395	69,185
One spouse/partner received 50% to 59.9% of couple's total income	2,631,335	149,970	1,304,825	510,275	666,260	2,631,330	40,495	115,795	194,705	150,050	157,485	369,760	392,140	1,210,905	394,600	281,195	332,320	118,375	84,415
A male is the higher total income recipient^Footnote 9	5,478,645	308,970	2,567,110	1,134,545	1,468,025	5,478,640	99,260	199,415	391,890	370,390	401,090	829,565	773,415	2,413,615	777,400	540,065	579,790	235,835	280,525
A male received 90% or more of couple's total income	731,360	30,100	371,470	211,540	118,255	731,365	28,350	33,290	37,510	48,370	49,355	105,755	100,830	327,905	98,275	61,840	63,405	30,230	74,155
A male received 80% to 89.9% of couple's total income	763,790	40,315	336,625	161,835	225,020	763,790	13,790	18,885	35,005	59,880	73,435	147,320	113,860	301,620	96,460	60,105	61,960	29,320	53,775
A male received 70% to 79.9% of couple's total income	1,061,165	63,755	472,605	206,920	317,885	1,061,165	16,660	27,470	69,585	89,415	95,675	168,960	143,340	450,055	140,175	102,950	110,730	43,850	52,340
A male received 60% to 69.9% of couple's total income	1,382,285	86,745	655,630	261,875	378,035	1,382,285	16,040	37,475	122,740	88,670	93,585	198,625	193,660	631,485	212,015	154,515	155,180	59,380	50,390
A male received 50% to 59.9% of couple's total income	1,540,040	88,050	730,780	292,375	428,830	1,540,040	24,415	82,300	127,055	84,055	89,040	208,900	221,725	702,550	230,475	160,650	188,515	73,045	49,860
A female is the higher total income recipient^Footnote 10	2,410,930	133,005	1,225,315	543,035	509,580	2,410,925	79,975	105,695	170,495	192,190	195,550	377,235	337,460	952,325	322,625	228,360	238,585	79,825	82,930
A female received 90% or more of couple's total income	194,160	11,295	104,990	59,530	18,355	194,160	23,885	24,520	24,905	24,215	18,765	24,340	17,945	35,585	13,815	6,295	5,875	2,575	7,030
A female received 80% to 89.9% of couple's total income	203,830	10,240	95,875	56,455	41,260	203,825	15,750	11,875	15,875	19,280	21,340	37,035	26,805	55,865	23,005	10,765	8,925	4,030	9,135
A female received 70% to 79.9% of couple's total income	333,540	17,155	156,330	80,155	79,900	333,540	12,210	15,255	24,270	32,730	37,875	60,850	40,825	109,515	38,695	26,600	21,925	8,880	13,415
A female received 60% to 69.9% of couple's total income	588,105	32,400	294,080	129,000	132,635	588,110	12,045	20,550	37,795	49,975	49,125	94,145	81,460	243,005	82,990	64,145	58,065	19,020	18,795
A female received 50% to 59.9% of couple's total income	1,091,290	61,920	574,050	217,900	237,425	1,091,290	16,080	33,490	67,645	65,995	68,445	160,860	170,415	508,350	164,120	120,545	143,800	45,330	34,555
Number of couples with market income^Footnote 11	7,969,260	450,605	3,881,235	1,761,350	1,876,070	7,969,260	168,015	244,235	530,095	583,215	622,425	1,252,000	1,143,640	3,425,625	1,122,940	780,795	829,460	320,590	371,840
Average share received by the higher market income recipient (%)	75.0	72.8	73.4	74.9	78.9	75.0	87.0	85.2	84.9	82.7	80.2	76.4	72.9	70.1	70.9	69.3	67.8	68.8	75.4
Median share received by the higher market income recipient (%)	72.3	69.4	70.1	72.2	80.1	72.3	100.0	98.3	95.3	88.2	82.2	75.2	70.0	66.4	67.3	66.1	64.2	65.2	75.2
Number of couples with two market income recipients^Footnote 12	6,748,810	394,460	3,361,995	1,493,845	1,498,515	6,748,810	76,235	131,755	311,270	405,560	480,460	1,062,800	1,031,265	3,249,470	1,046,360	743,020	798,020	308,060	354,005
Average share received by the higher market income recipient (%)	70.5	68.9	69.3	70.4	73.6	70.5	71.4	72.6	74.3	75.1	74.3	72.2	70.0	68.4	68.8	67.7	66.5	67.5	74.1
Median share received by the higher market income recipient (%)	68.1	66.4	66.4	67.4	72.4	68.1	69.4	71.4	74.0	75.1	73.4	70.3	67.2	65.4	66.1	65.2	63.2	64.3	74.0
Number of couples with employment income^Footnote 13	7,033,655	447,235	3,835,830	1,674,795	1,075,790	7,033,655	122,385	189,685	327,075	442,335	512,410	1,094,410	1,049,275	3,296,085	1,060,990	751,160	809,255	313,500	361,175
Average share received by the higher employment income recipient (%)	78.1	73.8	74.6	79.1	91.0	78.1	91.1	87.9	87.7	86.4	84.2	80.8	77.3	73.4	74.9	72.8	70.6	71.6	78.2
Median share received by the higher employment income recipient (%)	77.2	70.5	71.3	79.3	100.1	77.2	100.1	100.1	100.1	100.0	94.1	83.4	76.0	69.4	71.4	68.5	66.2	67.2	78.4
Number of couples with two employment income recipients^Footnote 14	5,080,635	379,090	3,137,365	1,182,745	381,430	5,080,635	36,885	79,455	143,680	217,960	291,865	730,295	791,895	2,788,605	864,420	643,125	713,785	274,315	292,960
Average share received by the higher employment income recipient (%)	69.7	69.1	68.9	70.4	74.6	69.7	70.4	71.2	71.9	72.4	72.3	71.3	69.9	68.6	69.2	68.2	66.7	67.5	73.2
Median share received by the higher employment income recipient (%)	67.1	66.5	66.3	68.0	74.1	67.1	69.2	70.1	70.4	71.2	71.1	69.2	67.2	65.5	66.3	65.4	63.2	64.2	72.3
Number of couples with government transfers^Footnote 15	6,784,315	399,870	3,262,800	1,132,770	1,988,870	6,784,315	255,350	333,520	585,640	574,730	576,995	1,083,335	932,370	2,442,370	865,605	567,115	568,995	208,545	232,110
Average share received by the higher government transfers recipient (%)	83.8	84.2	92.5	89.4	66.4	83.8	86.9	76.3	73.0	76.7	78.5	81.3	85.1	90.7	88.3	90.5	92.8	93.6	92.4
Median share received by the higher government transfers recipient (%)	96.2	93.1	100.1	100.1	60.1	96.2	96.4	76.1	68.1	76.2	82.1	91.4	100.0	100.1	100.1	100.1	100.1	100.1	100.1
Number of couples with two government transfers recipients^Footnote 16	3,838,400	247,325	1,386,110	477,380	1,727,585	3,838,400	140,905	265,655	495,775	456,955	431,300	689,625	473,530	884,660	361,250	204,790	178,130	63,550	76,945
Average share received by the higher government transfers recipient (%)	71.4	74.5	82.3	74.7	61.3	71.4	76.3	70.3	68.1	70.7	71.3	70.6	70.6	74.3	71.9	73.6	77.2	79.0	77.1
Median share received by the higher government transfers recipient (%)	67.4	74.5	87.4	74.5	58.0	67.4	77.1	67.4	64.4	68.0	68.0	66.2	66.2	72.1	67.5	70.4	79.4	87.2	81.2

Symbol(s)

Symbol ..

not available for a specific reference period

Symbol ...

not applicable

Symbol x

suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act

Symbol F

too unreliable to be published

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.

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.

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.

Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

Footnote 4

Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

Footnote 5

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

Footnote 6

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

Footnote 7

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

Footnote 8

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

Footnote 9

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

Footnote 10

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

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.

Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

Footnote 12

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

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.

Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

Footnote 14

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

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.

Only couples with a positive combined income are included.

Footnote 16

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

Data quality note(s) – Canada

• 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: 4.0%.
• 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.