Poverty and living standards in St. John's, Canada: official figures
14.8% of people in private households in St. John's, 15,885 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 8th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
How many children in St. John's live in poverty?
19.1% of children under 18 in St. John's lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), 5th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 14.8% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in St. John's?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 7.0% of people in St. John's were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in St. John's are in core housing need?
11.3% of households in St. John's, 5,435, 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 highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in St. John's spend too much on housing?
21.9% of households in St. John's spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, joint 30th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in St. John's struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in St. John's in 2021, 34.4% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 22.3% were in core housing need and 22.6% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 13.9% spent 30% or more and 4.4% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow St. John's compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
St. John's ranks 8 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Windsor | 15.6% |
| 6 | Moncton | 15.4% |
| 7 | Trois-Rivières | 15.0% |
| 8 | St. John's | 14.8% |
| 9 | Sherbrooke | 14.5% |
| 10 | London | 13.8% |
| 11 | Burnaby | 13.5% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
St. John's ranks 5 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cape Breton | 21.9% |
| 3 | Windsor | 21.1% |
| 4 | Moncton | 20.8% |
| 5 | St. John's | 19.1% |
| 6 | Winnipeg | 17.7% |
| 7 | London | 17.4% |
| 8 | Richmond | 16.8% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
St. John's ranks 22 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Edmonton | 12.0% |
| 20 | Nanaimo | 11.9% |
| 21 | Winnipeg | 11.8% |
| 22 | St. John's | 11.3% |
| 23 | Delta | 11.3% |
| 24 | Ottawa | 11.2% |
| 25 | London | 11.2% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
St. John's ranks 40 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Saskatoon | 22.1% |
| 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% |
More on St. John's: 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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