Poverty and living standards in Ottawa - Gatineau, Canada: official figures
8.8% of people in private households in Ottawa - Gatineau, 128,500 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 20th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
How many children in Ottawa - Gatineau live in poverty?
9.8% of children under 18 in Ottawa - Gatineau lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), 20th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 10.4% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in Ottawa - Gatineau?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 5.4% of people in Ottawa - Gatineau were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Ottawa - Gatineau are in core housing need?
9.4% of households in Ottawa - Gatineau, 55,245, 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 22nd lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Ottawa - Gatineau spend too much on housing?
18.4% of households in Ottawa - Gatineau spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, 14th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in Ottawa - Gatineau struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in Ottawa - Gatineau in 2021, 32.7% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 20.3% were in core housing need and 12.9% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 10.9% spent 30% or more and 3.8% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Ottawa - Gatineau compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Ottawa - Gatineau ranks 49 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | 9.3% |
| 47 | Calgary | 9.0% |
| 48 | Ottawa | 8.9% |
| 49 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 8.8% |
| 50 | Surrey | 8.8% |
| 51 | Laval | 8.7% |
| 52 | Oakville | 8.6% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Ottawa - Gatineau ranks 50 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Waterloo | 10.3% |
| 48 | Chilliwack | 10.2% |
| 49 | Barrie | 10.0% |
| 50 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 9.8% |
| 51 | Gatineau | 9.4% |
| 52 | Abbotsford-Mission | 9.0% |
| 53 | Guelph | 8.8% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
Ottawa - Gatineau ranks 47 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Kamloops | 9.7% |
| 45 | Lethbridge | 9.5% |
| 46 | Moncton | 9.5% |
| 47 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 9.4% |
| 48 | Red Deer | 9.4% |
| 49 | Kelowna | 9.3% |
| 50 | Cambridge | 9.3% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
Ottawa - Gatineau ranks 56 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Regina | 19.3% |
| 54 | Kamloops | 19.0% |
| 55 | Saint John | 18.6% |
| 56 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 18.4% |
| 57 | Laval | 17.3% |
| 58 | Longueuil | 17.3% |
| 59 | Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury | 17.2% |
More on Ottawa - Gatineau: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · all cities in Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census metropolitan areas, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CMACA), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3185f58b7a1a…)
- 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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