Key Takeaways
- Over 4.5 million Canadians (11 % of the population) lived below the poverty line in 2024, unchanged from 2023 but up from 7 % in 2020.
- The poverty threshold varies widely: from $45,860 for a two‑adult, two‑child household in smaller Quebec communities to $116,211 in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
- Nunavut recorded the highest provincial/territorial poverty rate at 31.7 %, followed by British Columbia (13 %) and Ontario (12.5 %); Quebec had the lowest at 7 %.
- Racialized people (15.5 %), persons with disabilities (12.6 %), and Indigenous peoples (18.1 %) experience poverty rates well above the national average, while seniors’ poverty fell to 5.4 %.
- Approximately 9.8 million Canadians (24 % of the population) reported household food insecurity in 2024, a modest decline of 360,000 from 2023.
- Median after‑tax income for families and unattached individuals was $75,500 in 2024 – up $400 from 2023 but still nearly $2,000 below the 2020 level of $77,400 (inflation‑adjusted).
- Families saw a 1.8 % rise in median after‑tax income to $108,900, whereas unattached individuals’ median remained flat at about $41,000.
- The Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon posted the highest provincial/territorial median after‑tax incomes ($116,100, $109,600, and $89,300, respectively); Alberta and Ontario led the provinces, while Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island had the lowest medians.
Overview of Poverty in Canada
More than one in ten Canadians were living below the poverty line in 2024, according to Statistics Canada. The national poverty rate stood at 11 %, essentially unchanged from 11.1 % in 2023 but markedly higher than the 7 % recorded in 2020. This translates to roughly 4.5 million people whose after‑tax income fails to cover the cost of a basic basket of goods and services, including food, shelter, clothing, and transportation. The poverty line is not a single figure; it adjusts for household size and geographic location, reflecting the varying costs of living across the country. While the rate has plateaued in the short term, the persistent elevation above pre‑pandemic levels signals ongoing financial strain for a significant share of the population.
How the Poverty Threshold Varies by Region and Household Size
Statistics Canada’s market‑basket measure defines the poverty line based on the ability to afford a modest, basic standard of living. Consequently, the income threshold differs dramatically depending on where a household resides and how many people it supports. For a family consisting of two adults and two children, the 2024 threshold ranged from a low of $45,860 in smaller Quebec communities (populations of 30,000–99,000) to a high of $116,211 in Iqaluit, Nunavut—the capital of the territory with the highest cost of living. In major urban centres, the thresholds were $61,763 in Toronto, $49,244 in Montreal, $62,842 in Vancouver, and $57,840 in Calgary. These variations underscore that a uniform national income figure can mask substantial disparities in purchasing power across Canada’s diverse regions.
Regional Poverty Disparities
Poverty is not evenly distributed across the provinces and territories. Nunavut recorded the highest poverty rate in 2024 at 31.7 %, driven largely by elevated living costs in the North. British Columbia followed with a 13 % poverty rate, and Ontario reported 12.5 %. In contrast, Quebec continued to enjoy the lowest poverty rate among the provinces at 7 %, a figure that declined by 0.7 percentage points from the previous year. The stark contrast between the territories and several provinces highlights how geographic factors—such as remoteness, climate, and limited economic opportunities—interact with provincial social policies to shape poverty outcomes.
Demographic Groups Experiencing Higher Poverty
Certain population segments face poverty rates well above the national average. In 2024, racialized Canadians experienced a poverty rate of 15.5 %, while individuals living with disabilities faced a rate of 12.6 %. Indigenous peoples aged 15 and older had the highest rate among the groups examined at 18.1 %. These figures reflect systemic barriers, including discrimination, limited access to employment, and inadequate support services. Conversely, seniors aged 65 and older saw their poverty rate decline slightly to 5.4 %, a reduction of 0.5 percentage points from 2023, suggesting that retirement income programs and senior‑specific benefits are providing a measure of protection for this age group.
Food Insecurity Trends
Beyond income poverty, many Canadians struggle to afford adequate nutrition. In 2024, approximately 9.8 million people—about 24 % of the population—reported that their households experienced some form of food insecurity. This marks a modest improvement from 2023, when the figure was roughly 10.2 million, representing a decline of just over 360,000 individuals. Food insecurity encompasses worries about running out of food, compromising on quality or quantity, and, in severe cases, going without meals. While the downward movement is encouraging, the proportion of Canadians facing food challenges remains substantively high, indicating that income constraints continue to affect basic nutritional security for nearly one in four residents.
Changes in Median After‑Tax Income
The economic backdrop to these poverty and food‑security figures is reflected in median after‑tax income trends. In 2024, the median after‑tax income for Canadian families and unattached individuals was $75,500. This represents a slight increase of $400 compared with 2023 but remains nearly $2,000 below the inflation‑adjusted median of $77,400 observed in 2020. The modest year‑over‑year rise was primarily driven by families, whose median after‑tax income grew by 1.8 % to $108,900. Unattached individuals, however, saw virtually no change, with a median holding steady at approximately $41,000. These dynamics suggest that while family units are benefiting from modest wage growth or increased household earners, single‑person households are not experiencing comparable income gains.
Provincial and Territorial Income Variations
Median after‑tax income also varies widely across Canada’s provinces and territories. The highest medians were recorded in the Northwest Territories ($116,100), Nunavut ($109,600), and Yukon ($89,300), reflecting higher wages in resource‑driven and public‑sector economies, as well as cost‑of‑living adjustments in the North. Among the provinces, Alberta led with a median of $85,300, closely followed by Ontario at $79,500. In contrast, the Atlantic provinces reported the lowest medians: Nova Scotia at $64,200, New Brunswick at $65,100, and Prince Edward Island at $65,900. These income disparities mirror the poverty patterns observed earlier, with lower‑income regions generally exhibiting higher poverty rates and greater reliance on social safety nets.
Policy Implications and Outlook
The data paint a nuanced picture of economic well‑being in Canada. While the national poverty rate has stabilized recently, it remains elevated compared with the pre‑pandemic low, and significant pockets of disadvantage persist—particularly in the North, among racialized and Indigenous populations, and for persons with disabilities. The modest rise in median after‑tax income for families suggests that some labor‑market improvements are taking hold, yet stagnant incomes for unattached individuals and the continued high prevalence of food insecurity indicate that many Canadians still lack sufficient financial resilience. Policymakers may need to target interventions that address regional cost‑of‑living pressures, enhance supports for single‑adult households, and strengthen programs aimed at reducing systemic barriers faced by marginalized groups. Continued monitoring of income, poverty, and food‑security metrics will be essential to gauge the effectiveness of such measures and to ensure progress toward a more equitable standard of living across the country.