Poverty and living standards in Surrey, Canada: official figures
8.8% of people in private households in Surrey, 49,290 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 Surrey live in poverty?
10.7% of children under 18 in Surrey lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), joint 27th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 10.6% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in Surrey?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 6.0% of people in Surrey were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Surrey are in core housing need?
15.4% of households in Surrey, 27,705, 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 8th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Surrey spend too much on housing?
26.1% of households in Surrey spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, 16th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in Surrey struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in Surrey in 2021, 30.9% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 27.6% were in core housing need and 8.9% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 24.0% spent 30% or more and 10.2% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Surrey compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Surrey ranks 50 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 53 | Kamloops | 8.6% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Surrey ranks 43 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | 10.8% |
| 41 | Calgary | 10.7% |
| 42 | Ottawa | 10.7% |
| 43 | Surrey | 10.7% |
| 44 | Kelowna | 10.6% |
| 45 | Oakville | 10.5% |
| 46 | Cambridge | 10.3% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
Surrey ranks 8 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Burnaby | 18.8% |
| 6 | Coquitlam | 16.7% |
| 7 | Richmond Hill | 15.6% |
| 8 | Surrey | 15.4% |
| 9 | Oshawa | 15.1% |
| 10 | Mississauga | 14.9% |
| 11 | Markham | 14.6% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
Surrey ranks 16 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Kelowna | 27.3% |
| 14 | Barrie | 26.8% |
| 15 | Oakville | 26.4% |
| 16 | Surrey | 26.1% |
| 17 | Peterborough | 25.7% |
| 18 | Milton | 25.3% |
| 19 | Kingston | 25.0% |
More on Surrey: 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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