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Canadian Megatrends, November 2015

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Released: 2015-11-23

The shift to smaller households over the past century

Canadian households are definitely downsizing. This month's issue of Canadian Megatrends examines the shrinking average household size in Canada over time.

Seven decades ago, there were 2.6 million households in the country, with an average of 4.3 people per household. In fact, almost 40% of households in 1941 were classified as large—households with five people or more. The trend of large households continued in the 1950s and 1960s as Canada's population grew significantly with the post-war baby boom.

By 2011, the number of households had increased nearly fivefold from 1941 to 13.3 million, but the average size had dropped to 2.5 people per household. Moreover, the percentage of large households fell to 8.4%. Large households remained the most common household size until 1976, when two-person households became most prevalent. The two-person household nearly doubled its share from 1941 to 2011, rising from 18.4% to 34.1%.

These dynamics had many demographic, social and cultural ramifications, such as an impact on the housing market and a change in the availability of childcare and other forms of support within families.

Products

The article "The shift to smaller households over the past century," part of Canadian Megatrends (Catalogue number11-630-X), is now available from The Daily module of our website.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Anne Milan (613-220-5440; anne.milan@canada.ca), Demography Division.

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