Only 15% of BC families headed by single parents, according to Stats Canada

The latest marital status and family survey figures in BC are out.

Stats Canada Demography Division Analyst, Hubert Denis says one figure on the family side might surprise you.

“We see that in BC, 85% of the families are a married couple while only 15% are lone parent families.”

According to the 2011 Census, 48% of the population aged 15 and over in the province is legally married while 11% are classified as common-law.

Here is a statistical breakdown of the numbers

Marital Status, 2016
Canada BC QC Canada – QC
Total marital status 30,454,776 4,060,085 7,030,569 23,424,207
Marital status, single 8,526,226 1,126,937 2,043,656 6,482,570
Marital status, married 14,033,959 1,967,946 2,505,659 11,528,300
Common Law 3,327,768 340,895 1,413,144 1,914,624
Marital status, separated 832,245 111,051 116,733 715,512
Marital status, widowed 1,834,746 238,350 450,977 1,383,769
Marital status, divorced 1,899,832 274,906 500,400 1,399,432

Canada BC QC Canada
Marital status, single (not living common law) 28% 28% 29% 28%
Marital status, married (and not separated) 46% 48% 36% 49%
Marital status, living common law 11% 8% 20% 8%
Marital status, separated (not living common law)3% 3% 2% 3%
Marital status, widowed (not living common law) 6% 6% 6% 6%
Marital status, divorced (not living common law) 6% 7% 7% 6%

Census Families

Year Total census families Couple families Lone-parent families Couple families Lone-parent
Canada 2016 10,052,075 8,434,311 1,617,764 84% 16%
BC 2016 1,323,820 1,126,562 197,258 85% 15%