Families, households and marital status – 2021 Census promotional material

Excerpts from fact sheet:

Quick facts

• Among G7 countries, Canada has the highest share of couples that are living common law (23%), owing to the popularity of this type of union in Quebec—home to 43% of Canada's common-law couples. Excluding Quebec, the share of common-law couples in Canada would have been 17% in 2021.
• Compared with previous generations, today's younger adults are less likely to be living as part of a couple—as alternatives like living alone, with roommates or with parents have become more common.
• In the 2021 Census, couples could be classified according to their gender diversity status the first time.
• The combined trends of population aging and decreasing fertility have resulted in fewer couples with children living at home with them.
• Households composed of roommates—that is, two or more people living together, among which none are part of a census family—are the fastest-growing household type.
• Households composed of roommates—that is, two or more people living together, among which none are part of a census family—are the fastest-growing household type.
• Continuing a long-term pattern of growth, 4.4 million people lived alone in 2021, up from 1.7 million in 1981. This represented 15% of all adults aged 15 and older in private households in 2021, the highest share on record.