Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Legal marital status

Release date: November 17, 2021
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Definition

Legal marital status refers to the marital status of the person under the law, not taking into account common-law unions. All persons aged less than 15 are considered as never married. Civil unions are included. Same-sex marriage has been legal in all provinces and territories of Canada since 2005.

Statistical unit(s)

Classification(s)

Reported in

2021, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996 and 1991.

Reported for

Total population

Question number(s)

Direct variable: Question 5

Responses

Never legally married; Legally married (and not separated); Separated, but still legally married; Divorced; Widowed

Remarks

For more information, refer to the definition of marital status.

More information

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2022

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 98-301-X

Frequency: Occasional

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