4.5 Million Below Poverty Line in Canada
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New Statistics Canada data shows that about 4.5 million people in Canada lived below the official poverty line in 2024, a striking figure that keeps the country’s cost-of-living crisis at the centre of public debate.
According to the 2024 Canadian Income Survey, Canada’s poverty rate stood at 11.0%, almost unchanged from 11.1% in 2023. The figure suggests that, despite signs of economic stabilization, millions of people are still struggling to afford basic needs.
Canada’s official poverty line is based on the Market Basket Measure. It compares a family’s disposable income with the cost of a basic basket of goods and services, including food, clothing, transportation, shelter, communication services, and other necessary expenses, adjusted for family size and region.
The data also shows that poverty affects age groups differently. In 2024, the poverty rate was 11.5% for children under 18 and 12.6% for people aged 18 to 64, while the rate for seniors declined to 5.4%.
Across the provinces, British Columbia recorded the highest poverty rate at 13.0%, followed by Ontario at 12.5%. Quebec continued to report the lowest provincial rate, at 7.0%.
The pressure is also visible in food insecurity. Statistics Canada reported that about 9.8 million people, or 24.0% of Canadians, lived in households that experienced some form of food insecurity in 2024.
For families, newcomers, workers, and people living alone, the numbers reflect a difficult daily reality. Rent, groceries, transportation, utilities, and child-care costs continue to shape household decisions, even when broader economic indicators appear more stable.
For Canada, the figure is more than a statistic. It is a warning that economic recovery cannot be measured only through growth or employment numbers, but also through whether people can live with basic dignity.
