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 Alberta

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	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 income^Footnote 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 couples^Footnote 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 spouse^Footnote 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 recipient^Footnote 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 recipient^Footnote 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 recipients^Footnote 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 recipient^Footnote 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 recipient^Footnote 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 income^Footnote 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 recipients^Footnote 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 income^Footnote 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 recipients^Footnote 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 transfers^Footnote 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 recipients^Footnote 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

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) – 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.