Census Snacks: Family trends in Canada
By Sarah Whitty and Manoj Raheja
Every five years, the Canadian government conducts a census of Canadian households to learn about its residents. This snackable summary of the 2016 census focuses on families.
The 2016 census revealed that the average household size dropped slightly to 2.4 people. In fact, 60% of people live in 1 or 2 person households, and 1 person households have increased across all age groups.
About 27% of young adults live with their parents, a rate which is increasing over time. The rate for multi-generational homes is also increasing. About 9% of children live in homes with grandparents, and 94% of those children also live with at least one parent.
About 60% of people are married or in common law relationships. Common-law relationships continue to increase, particularly among younger people. The rate of same sex couples increased 13% since 2011 and those couples now make up 0.9% of all couples. This compares to 1.4% in the USA and 0.9% in the UK. One third of same sex couples are married.
Is your brand prepared to meet the challenges presented by the changing composition of families, from single families to multi-generational families? We’d be happy to help you plan for change. Please get in touch with us!
Sklar Wilton & Associates helps their clients solve tough marketing challenges to unlock growth and build stronger brands. SW&A has worked for more than 30 years with some of Canada’s most iconic brands and, in 2017, was named the Best Workplace in Canada for Small Companies by the Great Place To Work? Institute and the number one Employee Recommended Workplace among small private employers by the Globe and Mail and Morneau Shepell.
Sign up for our newsletter and enjoy insights from our associates every 4 to 6 weeks.