Household wealth

Net worth of economic families and persons not in economic families.

Often reported as:
Median net worth among economic families and persons not in an economic family.

This indicator is measured in the Survey of Financial Security (SFS).

The net worth of an economic family or person not in an economic family is the value of all the assets (non-financial and financial) owned by this family unit less the value of its outstanding liabilities.

An economic family refers to a group of two or more persons who live in the same dwelling and are related to each other by blood, marriage, common-law union, adoption or a foster relationship. A person not in an economic family is a person living either alone or with others to whom they are unrelated.

Net worth is derived based on responses to a number of questions on the value of all major financial and non-financial assets and on the money owing on mortgages, vehicles, credit cards, student loans and other debts. The following SFS questionnaire blocks are used:

• Previous employer pension plans
• Pension plan benefits – in pay
• Principal residence
• Sub-block Other real estate/property
• Other real estate/property
• Cars and other vehicles
  • Sub-block Cars
  • Sub-block other vehicles
• Financial assets
• Other assets
• Student loans
• Debts
• Businesses – Incorporated and unincorporated

• Survey of Financial Security (SFS)

For products related to household wealth, including data tables, data visualizations, articles, and other product types see Analytical releases: Household wealth or view all analytical releases.

Household wealth is also measured on a quarterly basis within the Financial Flow Accounts, National Balance Sheet Accounts and the Distributions of Household Economic Accounts. These accounts measure wealth according to economic principles and accounting conventions as described in the System of National Accounts guide. In this context, a household is defined as a group of persons who share the same living accommodation, who pool some, or all, of their income and wealth and who consume certain types of goods and services collectively.