Dimensions of Poverty Hub

Description - Food insecurity in Canada

• This bar chart shows the change in the food security rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 7.0 to 9.0 percent, by increments of 0.5 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing two time periods, 2007-08 and 2011-12.
• In 2007-08, the rate was 7.7%. In 2011-12, it was 8.3%.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Households that do not have enough money to purchase or access a sufficient amount and variety of food to live a healthy lifestyle.

Canadian Community Health Survey – Annually

2017–18 data will be available in late 2019.

Table 13-10-0461-01

While the survey itself is conducted annually, food security is optional content and not collected by all provinces and territories. Options are being explored to collect annually for all provinces and territories.

Canadian Income Survey – Annually

Food insecurity content will be available in 2020.

To be effective, Canada's Poverty Reduction Strategy must have transparent indicators, clear targets and tangible actions, with progress validated in terms of its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ending poverty. It also supports data sharing, knowledge creation and engagement with Canadians.

That is why Canada's Poverty Reduction Strategy is introducing, for the first time ever, an official poverty line for Canada, as well as targets to reduce poverty by 20 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2030 based on the official measure of poverty.

Canadian Income Survey – Annually

2018 data will be available in early 2020.

Table 11-10-0135-01

Description - Unmet health needs in Canada

• This bar chart shows the change in the unmet health needs rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 10.5 to 13.0 percent, by increments of 0.5 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing two time periods, 2000-01 and 2014.
• In 2000-01, the rate was 12.5%. In 2014, it was 11.2%.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Canadians that reported that their health care needs were not met when they needed it during the past 12 months.

Canadian Community Health Survey – Annually

While the survey itself is collected annually, unmet health needs is optional content and not collected by all provinces and territories. Options are being explored to collect data on unmet health needs annually for all provinces and territories.

Health Fact Sheets: Unmet health care needs, 2014

Description - Unmet housing needs in Canada

• This bar chart shows the change in the unmet housing needs rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 6 to 14 percent, by increments of 2 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing four years, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016.
• In 2001, the rate was 13.7%. In 2006, it was 12.7%. In 2011, it was 12.5%. In 2016, it was 12.7%.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Canadians who are in housing that is unaffordable (more than 30 percent of before-tax household income), in need of major repairs, or unsuitable for the size and composition of the household, and whose household income is such that they could not afford a suitable and adequate home in their community.

Canadians that used a shelter for six months or more in the past year, and/or had shelter stays in each of the last three years.

Census – Every five years

2021 data will be released in 2022.

Measurement will be complemented in the coming years by improved community-level data.

2016 Census table: Core housing need

Description - Deep income poverty in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the deep income poverty rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 4 to 8 percent, by increments of 1 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing years, from 2012 to 2017, by increments of 1 year.
• The line shows that the deep income poverty rate was approximately 7.25% in 2012, and declined to approximately 6.25% in 2014.
• Two recent data points are highlighted: 5.4% in 2016, and 5.1% in 2017.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Individuals whose family disposable income is below 75 percent of Canada's Official Poverty Line.

Canadian Income Survey – Annually

2018 data will be available in early 2020.

Description - Low literacy – 15 year olds in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the low literacy rate for 15 year olds in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 9 to 11 percent, by increments of 1 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing years, from 2000 to 2015, by increments of 3 years.
• The line shows that the low literacy rate for 15 year olds was approximately 9.5% in 2000 and 2003, and rose to approximately 11% in 2006. It dropped to approximately 10.3% in 2009, before raising to approximately 10.8% in 2012.
• The most recent data point is highlighted: 10.7% in 2015.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Description - Low numeracy – 15 year olds in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the low numeracy rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 10 to 15 percent, by increments of 1 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing years, from 2003 to 2015, by increments of 3 years.
• The line shows that the low numeracy rate was a little above 10% in 2003, and rose to approximately 11.5% in 2009. It rose again to approximately 13.75% in 2012.
• The most recent data point is highlighted: 14.4% in 2015.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Individuals who have a level of knowledge and skills in reading and writing to permit them to fully participate in society.

Individuals with the numeracy (mathematical) knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in society.

Program for International Student Assessment – Every three years

2018 data will be released in 2019.

Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies – Every 10 years

2022 data expected to be released in 2023.

Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Description - Youth engagement in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the youth engagement rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 5 to 25, by increments of 5 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing years, from 1976 to 2015, by increments of 3 years. The graph continues a little to the right of the final marked axis value.
• The line begins at approximately 17% in 1976. While there was a notable spike to approximately 20% in 1984 and a drop to approximately 12.5% in 1990, the line describes an uneven but definite downward trend from approximately 17% 1979 to approximately 10% in 2012.
• Two recent data points are highlighted: 10.3% in 2015 and 9% in 2017.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Youth (age 15-24) who are not in employment, education or training.

Labour Force Survey – Monthly

While new data is available monthly, the indicator in the dashboard will be updated annually.

Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Table 14-10-0287-02

Description - Relative low income rate in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the relative low income rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 10 to 15, by increments of 1 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing years, from 1976 to 2016, in 4 year increments.
• The line begins at approximately 13.3%, and is fairly jagged. Two notable dips were in 1981 (approx. 12.3%) and 1989 (approx. 10.5%, a graph low point).
• The three most recent data points are highlighted: 14.2% in 2015, 13% in 2016, and 12.7% in 2017.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

The proportion of Canadians who have less than 50 percent of the median after-tax income.* Median income is the middle of the income distribution: it is the amount at which half the population has more income, and half the population has less income.
*Statistics Canada's Low Income Measure (LIM)

Canadian Income Survey, Annually

2018 data will be available in early 2020.

Table 11-10-0135-01

Description - Bottom 40% share in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the bottom 40% share rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 18 to 23 percent, by increments of 1 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing years, from 1976 to 2015, by increments of 3 years.
• The line shows that the bottom 40% share rate was approximately 21.25% in 1976. It rose to approximately 21.75 by 1981, before dropping to 21% by 1984. It gradually rose again to 22% in 1989, before declining to 20% by 2000. Between 2000-2014, it held relatively steady, between 20% and 20.5%.
• Three recent data points are highlighted: 20.2% in 2015, 20.6% in 2016, and 20.4% in 2017.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Share of total after-tax income held by 40 percent of the population at the bottom of the income distribution.

Canadian Income Survey – Annually

2018 data will be available in early 2020.

Table 11-10-0193-01

Description - Median hourly wage in Canada - 2018 constant dollars

• This line chart shows the change in the median hourly wage rate in 2018 constant dollars in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing dollars, from 18 to 24, by increments of 2 dollars.
• It has a horizontal axis showing years, from 1997 to 2017, by increments of 2 years.
• The line shows that the median hourly wage was $20.66 in 1997, and rose to $21.17 in 2006. From 2006 to 2010, it rose steadily to $22.78. It dropped to $22.13 in 2012, before returning to $22.38 by 2014.
• Three data points are highlighted: $23.18 in 2015, $23.14 in 2017, and $23.08 in 2018.

The hourly wage at which half the population has a higher wage and half the population has a lower wage.

The annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) value may be used to convert current dollars into constant dollars. This can be done by dividing the current dollar value by the CPI value for that year, and then multiplying that by the CPI value for the desired base year.

For example, to convert the 2016 current dollar value into 2018 constant dollars, one would do the following: $22.00 (2016 value), divided by 128.4 (2016 CPI), multiplied by 133.4 (2018 CPI) = $22.86 (2016 value converted to 2018 dollars).

The CPI values are available in Table 18-10-0005-01.

The median hourly wages in current dollars are available in Table 14-10-0340-01.

Labour Force Survey – Monthly

While new data is available monthly, the indicator in the dashboard will be updated annually.

Description - Poverty entry rate in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the poverty entry rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 3.0 to 5.5, by increments of 0.5 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing all two-year periods from 1992-93 to 2014-15, inclusively.
• The line shows that the poverty entry rate has fluctuated between 4% and 5.3%, but is trending downwards. In 1992-93, it was approximately 4.5%. It peaked at approximately 5.3% in 1995-96. Notable troughs in 1997-98 (approx. 4.5%), 2001-02 and 2012-13 (approx. 4%).
• The two most recent data points are highlighted: 4.1% in 2014-15 and 3.9% in 2015-16.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Description - Poverty exit rate in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the poverty exit rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 20 to 40, by increments of 5 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing all two-year periods from 1992-93 to 2014-15, inclusively.
• The line shows that the poverty exit rate in Canada was approximately 37% in 1992-93, the high point for the graph. It fluctuates, but tends downwards, until hitting approximately 35% in 2000-01. In 2001-02, it drops suddenly to approximately 26%, a low point, before raising to approximately 28% in 2002-03. The line then proceeds to fluctuate, trending downwards slightly, hovering about 27%.
• The two most recent data points are highlighted: 27.5% in 2014-15 and 27.6% in 2015-16.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

The poverty entry rate is the proportion of Canadians who, among two years of filing their taxes, entered low income in the second year (e.g. 2015) after not being in low income in the first year (e.g. 2014).

The poverty exit rate is the proportion of Canadians who, among two years of filing their taxes, exited low income in the second year (e.g. 2015) after being in low income in the first year (e.g. 2014).

Longitudinal Administrative Databank – Annually

Data on entry and exit rates for 2016/2017 will be published in November 2019.

Poverty entry and exit rates are based on the Low Income Measure. The indicator is not currently available using Canada's Official Poverty Line, and it is not available in the territories. Further research will be conducted to explore the feasibility of improving data collection for this indicator so that it could be tracked using Canada's Official Poverty Line.

Table 11-10-0024-01

Description - Average poverty gap in Canada

• This line chart shows the change in the average poverty gap rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 30 to 36 percent, by increments of 1 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing years, from 2002 to 2016, by increments of 2 years.
• The line shows that the average poverty gap rate was approximately 31.8% in 2002, and stayed relatively stable until 2011. From 2011 to 2013, it increased from approximately 32% to 35%, before dropping to approximately 34.5% in 2014.
• Three recent data points are highlighted: 34.3% in 2015, 34.1% in 2016, and 35.1% in 2017.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Average shortfall below Canada's Official Poverty Line for those living in poverty.

Once it has been determined that an individual is living below the poverty line, the poverty gap ratio can be calculated by using the amount that the person's family disposable income is below the poverty line, expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. For example, an individual living in a family with disposable income of $15,000 and a poverty line of $20,000 would have a poverty gap of $5,000. In percentage terms, the "gap ratio" would be 25%. The average gap ratio for a given population is the average of these values as calculated for each person.

Canadian Income Survey – Annually

2018 data will be available in early 2020.

Table 11-10-0136-01

Description - Asset resilience in Canada

• This bar chart shows the change in the asset resilience rate in Canada over time.
• It has a vertical axis showing percentages, from 42 to 52 percent, by increments of 2 percent.
• It has a horizontal axis showing three years, 1999, 2005, and 2012.
• In 1999, the rate was 45.9%. In 2005, it was 46.2%. In 2012, it was 51.2%.

Source: Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

The ability of Canadians to cover unexpected expenses, or reduced income, by drawing from assets (e.g. a bank account) to prevent falling into poverty for a period of three months. (Savings of approximately $10,400 for the three months, based on low income in 2012.)

Survey of Financial Security – Every three years

While data for 2016 recently became available, the results are not available at this time. Future analysis of the results for this indicator will be updated on the dashboard when available. Going forward, the Government may consider other definitions of asset resilience as new data becomes available (e.g., the appropriate number of months needed to cover unexpected expenses or reduced income to accurately define what it means to be asset resilient).

Statistics for Asset Resilience were based on the Low Income Measure and were derived from D. Rothwell and J. Robson, "The Prevalence and Composition of Asset Poverty in Canada: 1999, 2005, and 2012", International Journal of Social Welfare, 2017.