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Sense of meaning and purpose
Indicator
Sense of meaning and purpose
Note: This indicator is a headline indicator. Headline indicators are intended to provide a high-level assessment of overall quality of life in Canada.
Description - Sense of meaning and purpose over time
55.7% of the population reported a high sense of meaning and purpose (score of 8, 9 or 10) in Q2 2025.
| High sense of meaning and purpose (score of 8, 9 or 10) | |
|---|---|
| Q3 2021 | 60.5% |
| Q4 2021 | 59.1% |
| Q1 2022 | 58.6% |
| Q2 2022 | 56.8% |
| Q3 2022 | 61.4% |
| Q4 2022 | 53.9% |
| Q1 2023 | .. |
| Q2 2023 | 58.3% |
| Q3 2023 | 57.7% |
| Q4 2023 | 56.6% |
| Q1 2024 | 56.9% |
| Q2 2024 | 51.1% |
| Q3 2024 | 55.6% |
| Q4 2024 | 56.8% |
| Q1 2025 | 57.3% |
| Q2 2025 | 55.7% |
| .. Not available for this reference period | |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Social Survey, 2021 to 2025.
Definition
Proportion of the population by level of feeling as if the things they do in life are worthwhile.
Measurement
This indicator is measured in the Canadian Social Survey (CSS), the Survey Series on People and their Communities (SSPC) and the Survey Series on First Nations People, Métis and Inuit (SSFNPMI). Survey respondents are asked:
Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means "Not at all" and 10 means "Completely", to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?
Data sources
Data on sense of meaning and purpose were collected at Statistics Canada for the first time in 2021 in order to fill a data gap identified by the Quality of Life Framework for Canada.
Data tables and analysis
For products related to sense of meaning and purpose, including data tables, data visualizations, articles, and other product types see Analytical releases: Sense of meaning and purpose or view all analytical releases.
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