Household income

• Median after-tax income among economic families and persons not in an economic family, unadjusted.
• Median after-tax income among economic families and persons not in an economic family, adjusted for family size.

This indicator is measured in the Canadian Income Survey (CIS) and in the Census of Population. Each of these sources measures this indicator using a combination of survey responses and administrative data.

After-tax income is the total of market income and government transfers, less income tax. Market income consists of employment income and private pensions, as well as income from investments and other market sources. Government transfers include benefits such as Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, social assistance, the goods and services tax or harmonized sales tax credit, provincial tax credits, and child benefits.

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.

The median is the level of income at which half the population had higher income and half had lower.

Estimates are reported in constant dollars to factor in inflation and enable comparisons across time in real terms.

This indicator includes two measures of median after-tax income among economic families and persons not in economic families: unadjusted (not adjusted for family size), and adjusted for family size. Adjusting for family size allows users to compare the income of families of different sizes. The adjustment is made by dividing the family income by the square root of the family size and assigning this value to all persons in the family. This adjustment distributes income among the members of the family, and takes into account the economies of scale present in larger families, the increasing number of individuals living on their own and the decline in family size over time.

This indicator is measured through more than one Statistics Canada survey. Estimates can vary between data sources due to differences in reference periods, targeted or sampled populations, data collection and other methodology.

• Canadian Income Survey (CIS)
  • Table 11-10-0190-01 – Market income, government transfers, total income, income tax and after-tax income by economic family type
• Census of Population
  • Table 98-10-0074-01 – Economic family unit income statistics for income sources and taxes by family characteristics and decile group: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts
  • Table 98-10-0075-01 – Economic family unit income statistics for income sources and taxes by family characteristics: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts
  • Table 98-10-0076-01 – Economic family unit income statistics for income sources and taxes by decile group: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts

• Income of Canadians, 2021 (Statistics Canada – Infographics, May 9, 2023)
• Financial vulnerability of Canadians with the lowest incomes (Statistics Canada – Infographics, February 8, 2023)
• Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities (Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Report, December 13, 2022)
• Income of Canadians, 2020 (Statistics Canada - Infographics, March 23, 2022)
• Income of Canadians, 2019 (Statistics Canada - Infographics, March 23, 2021)
• Income of Canadians, 2017 (Statistics Canada - Infographics, February 26, 2019)

New analysis on income is released annually through The Daily:

• Canadian Income Survey: Territorial estimates, 2021 (The Daily, June 21, 2023)
• Canadian Income Survey, 2021 (The Daily, May 2, 2023)
• Canadian Income Survey: Territorial estimates, 2020 (The Daily, November 3, 2022)
• Canadian Income Survey, 2020 (The Daily, March 23, 2022)
• Canadian Income Survey, 2019 (The Daily, March 23, 2021)

For additional information on income from the Census of Population, please refer to:

• Income Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021 (Reference materials, 2021 Census, March 30, 2022)