About this tabulation

General information

Catalogue number :	97F0020XCB2001006
Release date :	May 13, 2003
Topic :	Income of Individuals, Families and Households
Data dimensions :	Geography (Geographic Index) Census Family Structure for Census Families, Sex, Age Groups and Household Living Arrangements for Non-family Persons 15 Years and Over and Sex and Age Groups for Persons in Private Households (87) Income Status (4) Years (2)

Note

Special Note: Data Quality - Relationship of Census Income Estimates to the National Accounts and Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics

Census income estimates of aggregate income in 2000 were compared to similar personal income estimates from the national accounts. After adjustments to the personal income estimates for differences in concepts and coverage, the census estimate of aggregate income in 2000 from comparable sources was 4.1% lower than the national accounts estimate. As in the past, census estimates for some income components and for some provinces compared more favourably than for others.

Census estimates of aggregate wages and salaries, the largest component of income, were almost identical to the national accounts estimates. Although there was a large difference between the two estimates of net income from farm self-employment (the smallest component of individual earnings), census estimates of aggregate income from both farm and non-farm self-employment were lower by 1%. Overall, estimates of total income from employment were nearly identical.

Census estimates of Old Age Security pensions and the Guaranteed Income Supplement were about 5% higher, while those for Canada/Quebec Pension Plan benefits were about 9% lower, than adjusted national accounts estimates. Employment Insurance benefits reported in the census were smaller by about 6%. Estimates of aggregate Canada Child Tax benefits were nearly identical in both estimates. Census estimates of other government transfer payments, which include such items as social welfare benefits, provincial income supplements to seniors, veterans' pensions and GST/HST/QST refunds, were significantly below the estimates from the national accounts. Overall, census estimates of aggregate income from all government transfer payments were lower by about 13%. As in previous census-year comparisons, the census estimate of investment income was significantly lower, by 32% in 2000, than the national accounts estimate.

Census income statistics were also compared with similar statistics from the annual Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID). SLID estimates reflect adjustments made for population undercoverage, while census estimates do not include such an adjustment. This adjustment contributes to census estimates showing fewer income recipients (by 3.4%) and earners (by 7.2%) than SLID estimates. Consequently, census estimates of aggregate earnings are 4% lower than the SLID estimate, while the census estimate of aggregate total income of individuals is lower by 3%. Most of the observed provincial differences were considered acceptable in the light of sampling errors in the Survey.

Special Note: Census Family

Refers to a married couple (with or without children of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without children of either or both partners) or a lone parent of any marital status, with at least one child living in the same dwelling. A couple living common-law may be of opposite or same sex. 'Children' in a census family include grandchildren living with their grandparent(s) but with no parents present. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Changes to Family Concepts for the 2001 Census

For the 1996 Census, the definition of census family was as follows:

Refers to a now-married couple (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both partners) or a lone-parent of any marital status, with at least one never-married son or daughter living in the same dwelling.

This reflected a concept that had not changed since 1976. However, during the planning for the 2001 Census, it was decided that some changes were required, due to the following factors: (1) changes to federal and provincial legislation putting same-sex couples on an equal footing with opposite-sex common-law couples (most notably Bill C-23, the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, which was passed by the Government of Canada in 2000); (2) recommendations by the United Nations as part of a process of standardization of concepts for the 2000-2001 round of censuses in member countries; and (3) a significant number of persons less than 15 years of age classified as 'non-family persons' in previous censuses.

As a result, the census family concept for the 2001 Census reflects the following changes:

- Two persons living in a same-sex common-law relationship, along with any of their children residing in the household, are considered a census family.

- Children in a census family can have been previously married (as long as they are not currently living with a spouse or common-law partner). Previously, they had to be 'never-married'.

- A grandchild living in a three-generation household where the parent (middle generation) is never-married is, contrary to previous censuses, now considered as a child in the census family of his or her parent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, the census family usually consisted of the two older generations.

- A grandchild of another household member, where a middle-generation parent is not present, is now considered as a child in the census family of his or her grandparent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, such a grandchild would not be considered as a member of a census family.

The last three changes listed (definition of 'child'), together, result in a 1.5% increase in the total number of census families, and in a 10.1% increase in the number of lone-parent families. The inclusion of same-sex couples results in a 0.4% increase in the number of census families at the national level.

The term economic family refers to a group of two or more persons who live in the same dwelling and are related to each other by blood, marriage, common-law or adoption. This definition has not changed for 2001. The only effect of conceptual changes on economic families is that same-sex partners are now considered to be common-law partners. Thus they are considered related and members of the same economic family.

Outside of the 'family universe', there are two related concepts that are affected by the change in the census family definition: common-law status and household type. Prior to 2001, two people living together as husband and wife without being legally married to each other were considered to be living common-law. For 2001, this has been expanded to include persons living in a same-sex partnership. The concept of household type refers to the basic division of private households into family and non-family households. Since it is based on the census family concept, the household type (whether a household is 'family' or 'non-family') is affected by the change. Also, the detailed classification of this variable is affected, since married couples and common-law couples were broken down into those 'without never-married sons or daughters' and 'with never-married sons or daughters'. For 2001 this reads 'without children' and 'with children', with the attendant change in meaning.

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Common-law Status

Refers to two people of the opposite sex or of the same sex who live together as a couple, but who are not legally married to each other. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Constant Dollars Income

Refers to the presentation of income statistics from two or more censuses in terms of the value of the dollar in one of those censuses.

To convert the 1995 incomes into 2000 dollars, the 1995 values are revised upwards by the change in the Consumer Price Index between 1995 and 2000.

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Historical Comparison of Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 1996 and 2001

A few census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) have different geographical boundaries in 2001 as compared to 1996. In order to facilitate data comparisons, the 1996 CMA and CA data have been adjusted to reflect as closely as possible the 2001 CMA and CA boundaries. In the following cases, there was not an exact match. Therefore care should be taken when looking at the 1996 Census data for these CAs:

Cobourg, Ontario
Courtenay, British Columbia
Lachute, Quebec
Guelph, Ontario
Val d'Or, Quebec
Williams Lake, British Columbia
Woodstock, Ontario

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Incidence of Low Income

Incidence of low income rates are calculated from rounded counts of low income persons or families and the total number of persons or families. These counts have been rounded independently of the rounded counts shown in the table; thus, there may be a small difference between the rate shown and one derived from the counts shown. Users are advised to interpret incidence of low income rates based upon small counts with caution.

Special Note: Income Reference Period

Canadian censuses were conducted in 1996 and 2001. Income data from these censuses relate to the calendar year prior to the census year, i.e. 1995 and 2000 respectively. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Income Suppression

Area suppression is the deletion of all characteristic data for geographic areas with populations below a specified size. Income distributions and related statistics are suppressed if the population in the area, excluding institutional residents, is less than 250 from either the 100% or the 20% database, or if the number of private households is less than 40 from the 20% database.

Tables with Income/Employment Income Distributions

Income/earnings distributions have been suppressed where the estimated total number of units (persons, families or households) in the reference year is less than 250. All suppressed data cells and associated averages, medians and standard errors of average income/earnings have been replaced with zeroes or symbols.

In all cases, suppressed data are included in the appropriate higher aggregate subtotals and totals.

Tables with Number and Average Employment Income only

Statistics have been suppressed if the estimated total number of persons (males, females or both sexes) with employment income in the reference year is less than 250. All suppressed data cells and associated averages have been replaced by zeroes or symbols.

In all cases, suppressed data are included in the appropriate higher aggregate subtotals and totals.

Special Note: Nunavut (1)

Data from the 2001 Census are available for Nunavut, the new territory that came into effect on April 1, 1999.

Standard data products released only at the Canada/Province/Territory geographic levels will not contain data for Nunavut for the census years prior to 2001.

Standard data products released at the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Census Agglomeration (CA) geographic levels will contain data for Nunavut for the 2001, 1996 and/or 1991 Censuses.

The 1996 and 1991 CMA/CA data have been adjusted to reflect as closely as possible the 2001 CMA/CA geographic boundaries. This has been done to facilitate data comparisons using the 2001 geographic boundaries.

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Data table

Select data categories for this table

Geography Geographic index Canada Newfoundland and Labrador - Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador St. John's Grand Falls-Windsor Gander Corner Brook Labrador City Prince Edward Island - Île-du-Prince-Édouard Charlottetown Summerside Nova Scotia - Nouvelle-Écosse Halifax Kentville Truro New Glasgow Cape Breton New Brunswick - Nouveau-Brunswick Moncton Saint John Fredericton Bathurst Campbellton Campbellton (N.B. part - Partie N.-B.) Campbellton (Que. part - Partie Qc) Edmundston Quebec - Québec Matane Rimouski Rivière-du-Loup Baie-Comeau Chicoutimi - Jonquière Alma Dolbeau-Mistassini Sept-Îles Québec Saint-Georges Thetford Mines Sherbrooke Magog Cowansville Victoriaville Trois-Rivières Shawinigan La Tuque Drummondville Granby Saint-Hyacinthe Sorel-Tracy Joliette Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Montréal Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Lachute Val-d'Or Amos Rouyn-Noranda Ontario Cornwall Hawkesbury Hawkesbury (Que. part - Partie Qc) Hawkesbury (Ont. part - Partie Ont.) Ottawa - Hull Ottawa - Hull (Que. part - Partie Qc) Ottawa - Hull (Ont. part - Partie Ont.) Brockville Pembroke Pembroke (Que. part - Partie Qc) Pembroke (Ont. part - Partie Ont.) Petawawa Kingston Belleville Cobourg Port Hope and Hope Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Oshawa Toronto Hamilton St. Catharines - Niagara Kitchener Brantford Woodstock Tillsonburg Norfolk Guelph Stratford London Chatham-Kent Leamington Windsor Sarnia Owen Sound Collingwood Barrie Orillia Midland North Bay Greater Sudbury Elliot Lake Haileybury Timmins Sault Ste. Marie Thunder Bay Kenora Manitoba Winnipeg Portage la Prairie Brandon Thompson Saskatchewan Regina Yorkton Moose Jaw Swift Current Saskatoon North Battleford Prince Albert Estevan Alberta Medicine Hat Brooks Lethbridge Calgary Red Deer Camrose Edmonton Lloydminster Lloydminster (Sask. part - Partie Sask.) Lloydminster (Alta. part - Partie Alb.) Cold Lake Grande Prairie Wood Buffalo Wetaskiwin British Columbia - Colombie-Britannique Cranbrook Penticton Kelowna Vernon Kamloops Chilliwack Abbotsford Vancouver Squamish Victoria Duncan Nanaimo Parksville Port Alberni Courtenay Campbell River Powell River Williams Lake Quesnel Prince Rupert Kitimat Terrace Prince George Dawson Creek Fort St. John Yukon Territory - Territoire du Yukon Whitehorse Northwest Territories - Territoires du Nord-Ouest Yellowknife Nunavut

Census Family Structure for Census Families, Sex, Age Groups and…^{Footnote 1} Total - Census family structure and presence of children Couple families Without children With children under 6 years only With children 6-17 years only With children under 6 years and children 6-17 years only All other couple families Married couple families Without children With children under 6 years only With children 6-17 years only With children under 6 years and children 6-17 years only All other married couple families Common-law couple families Without children With children under 6 years only With children 6-17 years only With children under 6 years and children 6-17 years only All other common-law couple families Female lone-parent families With children under 6 years only With children 6-17 years only With children under 6 years and children 6-17 years only All other female lone-parent families Male lone-parent families With children under 18 years All other male lone-parent families Total - All non-family persons 15 years and over Living alone Less than 65 years 65 years and over Living with others Less than 65 years 65 years and over Male non-family persons 15 years and over Living alone Less than 65 years 65 years and over Living with others Less than 65 years 65 years and over Female non-family persons 15 years and over Living alone Less than 65 years 65 years and over Living with others Less than 65 years 65 years and over Total - Sex and age groups Under 6 years 6-9 years 10-14 years Under 15 years 15-17 years 18-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years 65-69 years 70 years and over Males in private households Under 6 years 6-9 years 10-14 years Under 15 years 15-17 years 18-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years 65-69 years 70 years and over Females in private households Under 6 years 6-9 years 10-14 years Under 15 years 15-17 years 18-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years 65-69 years 70 years and over

This table details income status and census family structure for census families, sex, age groups and household living arrangements for non-family persons 15 years and over and sex and age groups for persons in private households in Canada^{Footnote 2}

Income Status (4)	Years (2)
	1995	2000
Total - Income statusFootnote 3	7,756,615	8,272,610
Low income	1,246,010	1,045,740
Other	6,510,600	7,226,870
Incidence of low income %	16.1	12.6

Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97F0020XCB2001006.

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Related data

• 2001 Census analysis series:
  Income of Canadian Families, 2001 Census