Statistics Canada - Government of Canada

Standard symbols

Appendix table 1: Selected characteristics of ever-married Canadians aged 25 and over
Current marital status, in 2001
 Ever-married: At least once
Total Married Divorced Widowed
Both sexes, in thousands
16,701
12,778
2,416
1,405
Men
7,810
6,466
1,043
300
Women
8,788
6,312
1,372
1,104
Average age at first marriage
Both sexes
24.8
25.1
24.0
23.8
Men
26.2
26.3
25.5
26.0
Women
23.6
23.8
22.8
23.2
Average age difference between respondent and first spouse
Both sexes
3.5
3.4
3.8
4.8
Men
3.3
3.2
3.8
3.5
Women
3.7
3.5
3.8
5.2
Average duration of first marriage, in years
Total
21.7
22.2
12.2
33.9
Still married
23.5
23.5
..
..
To divorce or separation
11.1
8.9
12.1
13.4
To death of spouse
34.2
23.0
16.7
35.7
First spouse's marital status before the marriage, in percentage
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Widowed
0.6
0.5
F
1.6E1
Divorced
5.5
5.3
7.61
3.9
Single
93.91
94.2
92.01
94.51
Respondent lived common-law with first spouse before marrying
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Yes
14.9
14.8
22.41
2.71
No
8.31
4.3
29.91
8.01
Have never lived common-law
76.81
80.9
47.71
89.31
Reason for end of first marriage
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Still married
68.71
89.1
..
..
Divorced or separated
22.71
9.7
99.21
9.5
Death of spouse
8.61
1.2
F
90.51
1. Statistically significant difference from reference group (currently married) marked in italic, at the 95% confidence level.
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2001.