Poverty and living standards in Lethbridge, Canada: official figures

9.8% of people in private households in Lethbridge, 9,470 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 27th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.

Low-income rate (LIM-AT, 2020)

9.8%

2020

Households in core housing need (2021)

9.5%

2021

How many children in Lethbridge live in poverty?

12.0% of children under 18 in Lethbridge lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), joint 31st highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 10.0% (Canada: 15.0%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

What is the low-income cut-off rate in Lethbridge?

By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 4.0% of people in Lethbridge were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

How many households in Lethbridge are in core housing need?

9.5% of households in Lethbridge, 3,765, 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 24th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

How many households in Lethbridge spend too much on housing?

20.5% of households in Lethbridge spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, 21st lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

How many renters in Lethbridge struggle with housing costs?

Among renter households in Lethbridge in 2021, 36.4% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 21.5% were in core housing need and 11.8% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 13.2% spent 30% or more and 4.1% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

How Lethbridge compares with other cities in Canada

Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)

Lethbridge ranks 43 of 69, highest first.

Rank	City	Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census
40	Gatineau	9.9%
41	Chilliwack	9.9%
42	Red Deer	9.8%
43	Lethbridge	9.8%
44	Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury	9.5%
45	Mississauga	9.4%
46	Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo	9.3%

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)

Lethbridge ranks 32 of 69, highest first.

Rank	City	Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census
29	Nanaimo	12.7%
30	Kitchener	12.5%
31	Trois-Rivières	12.0%
32	Lethbridge	12.0%
33	Mississauga	11.9%
34	Markham	11.9%
35	Red Deer	11.8%

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)

Lethbridge ranks 45 of 69, highest first.

Rank	City	Households in core housing need, 2021 Census
42	Abbotsford	10.0%
43	Abbotsford-Mission	9.8%
44	Kamloops	9.7%
45	Lethbridge	9.5%
46	Moncton	9.5%
47	Ottawa - Gatineau	9.4%
48	Red Deer	9.4%

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)

Lethbridge ranks 49 of 69, highest first.

Rank	City	Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census
46	Red Deer	21.3%
47	Cambridge	21.2%
48	Windsor	21.1%
49	Lethbridge	20.5%
50	Winnipeg	20.2%
51	Moncton	20.2%
52	Ottawa	20.1%

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

More on Lethbridge: 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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