Poverty and living standards in Halifax, Canada: official figures
12.0% of people in private households in Halifax, 52,355 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 18th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
How many children in Halifax live in poverty?
14.7% of children under 18 in Halifax lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), joint 13th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 13.2% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in Halifax?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 5.6% of people in Halifax were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Halifax are in core housing need?
12.2% of households in Halifax, 22,540, were in core housing need in 2021, meaning their home was unaffordable, crowded or in need of major repairs and they could not afford an acceptable local alternative; that was joint 17th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Halifax spend too much on housing?
21.8% of households in Halifax spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, joint 28th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in Halifax struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in Halifax in 2021, 36.7% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 22.4% were in core housing need and 7.8% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 10.8% spent 30% or more and 5.0% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Halifax compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Halifax ranks 18 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Winnipeg | 12.9% |
| 16 | Peterborough | 12.8% |
| 17 | St. Catharines | 12.4% |
| 18 | Halifax | 12.0% |
| 19 | Chatham-Kent | 12.0% |
| 20 | Longueuil | 11.9% |
| 21 | Saskatoon | 11.8% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Halifax ranks 14 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | St. Catharines | 15.6% |
| 12 | Thunder Bay | 15.3% |
| 13 | Toronto | 14.7% |
| 14 | Halifax | 14.7% |
| 15 | Regina | 14.4% |
| 16 | Peterborough | 14.2% |
| 17 | Belleville | 13.8% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
Halifax ranks 17 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Hamilton | 13.0% |
| 15 | Brampton | 12.9% |
| 16 | Barrie | 12.8% |
| 17 | Halifax | 12.2% |
| 18 | St. Catharines | 12.2% |
| 19 | Edmonton | 12.0% |
| 20 | Nanaimo | 11.9% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
Halifax ranks 41 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | 22.0% |
| 39 | Langley | 21.9% |
| 40 | St. John's | 21.9% |
| 41 | Halifax | 21.8% |
| 42 | Delta | 21.8% |
| 43 | St. Catharines-Niagara | 21.7% |
| 44 | Chilliwack | 21.5% |
More on Halifax: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · all cities in Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
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