Statistics Canada - Statistique Canada
Skip main navigation menuSkip secondary navigation menuHomeFrançaisContact UsHelpSearch the websiteCanada Site
The DailyCanadian StatisticsCommunity ProfilesProducts and servicesHome
CensusCanadian StatisticsCommunity ProfilesProducts and servicesOther links

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

Media Room Search The Daily View or print The Daily in PDF format. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader The Daily archives Latest release from the Labour Force Survey Latest release from the Consumer Price Index Recently released products Latest economic indicators Release dates Get a FREE subscription to The Daily Information about The Daily The Daily
Tuesday, October 1, 2002

The digital divide

2000

Canada's digital divide - the gap in the rate of Internet use between lower-income and upper-income families - appears to be shrinking slowly, according to a new study.

However, most of the improvement is occurring in middle-income and upper-middle income groups. The gap in Internet use persists between people with the lowest incomes and those with the highest.

Internet use from home took another big jump in 2001, but the rate of growth eased off, according to the Household Internet Use Survey.

More than 5.8 million households, or 49% of all 12 million households, had at least one member that regularly used the Internet from home in 2001, a 23% increase from 2000. This was somewhat less than the gain of 42% from 1999 to 2000.

In 2001, 7.2 million households had at least one member who used the Internet regularly, either from home, work, school, a public library or other location. This group represented 60% of all households, up from 51% in 2000.

For the purpose of this study, households were ranked by income and categorized into 10 groups based on their income levels. Each group represented 10%, or one-tenth, of the total number of households.

The Internet age is passing by substantial numbers of people who do not have the money or opportunity to participate. In 2000, 77% of households with the highest 10% of incomes used the Internet, five times the rate of 15% among those with the lowest 10% of incomes.

The proportion of new users coming from households with lower incomes has been increasing. However, from 1996 to 2000, it was actually middle-income groups who picked up share and accounted for proportionately more Internet users.

In 1997, 25% of all new Internet users came from households with the top 10% of incomes. By 2000, only 11% of all new Internet users were from the top income bracket.

However, households in the bottom two income brackets accounted for about 7% of new Internet uses in 2000, up from only 4% four years earlier.

Overall, the relative digital divide is closing. However, this has been entirely because of these households in the upper-middle of the income scale. Households in the three bottom income groups are continuing to lose ground compared with households in the top income group.

There is also an urban-rural digital divide, as well as gaps based on level of education, family type and age.

The research paper The digital divide in Canada, no. 1 (56F0009XIE, free), which assesses the extent of the digital divide and how it is evolving, is now available on Statistics Canada's website. From the Our products and services page, choose Research papers (free), then Health. An expanded version, Connectedness series: Unveiling the digital divide, no. 7 (56F0004MIE, free), is also available.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact George Sciadas (613-951-6389), Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division.



Home | Search | Contact Us | Français Return to top of page
Date Modified: 2002-10-07 Important Notices