Canada: housing

How many homes are being built in Canada?

The six-month trend in Canadian housing starts was 244,149 units in August 2026, down 1.3% from July, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), released on 16 September 2026. The seasonally adjusted annual rate for August alone was 229,046 units, flat on July.

In centres of 10,000 people or more, 17,691 actual starts were recorded in August, down 2% from a year earlier, and 149,542 in the year to date, down 4%. A housing start is counted when construction begins, usually at the foundation. The annual rate shows what a full year would look like at that month's pace.

Official sources: CMHC: Housing starts and construction data for August 2026

How big is Canada's housing shortage?

Canada faces an annual housing supply gap of 187,000 to 238,000 homes to restore pre-pandemic affordability by 2036, according to CMHC's Fall 2026 Housing Supply Report, published on 10 September 2026. CMHC estimates that 417,000 to 469,000 homes a year are needed, compared with about 231,000 a year if current trends continue.

The gap is a modelled estimate of how many extra homes would bring prices and rents back to 2019 affordability levels, not a count of people without housing. CMHC says the national gap is broadly unchanged from its 2025 estimate, narrowing in Toronto and Calgary and widening in Ottawa and Montréal. The estimates are not government targets.

Official sources: CMHC: Fall 2026 Housing Supply Report

What is the homeownership rate in Canada?

The homeownership rate in Canada was 66.5% in 2021, down from a peak of 69.0% in 2011, according to the 2021 Census of Population from Statistics Canada. 10.0 million households owned their home, more than ever before, but renter households grew more than twice as fast (+21.5%) as owner households (+8.4%) over the decade.

Ownership fell most among young adults: 36.5% of those aged 25 to 29 owned in 2021, compared with 44.1% in 2011. The rate counts households, not people. The next census figures, from the 2026 Census, will be released from 2027; Statistics Canada's Canadian Housing Survey gives estimates between censuses.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: To buy or to rent (2021 Census housing release)

Are new home prices falling in Canada?

Statistics Canada's New Housing Price Index fell 0.1% in August 2026 from July, according to the release of 17 September 2026. The release gives the monthly change for Canada and each province.

The index tracks builders' selling prices for new single, semi-detached and town homes of the same specification over time, excluding sales taxes, so it measures price change rather than the average price paid. It does not cover condominium apartments or resale homes. The index is not revised and not seasonally adjusted.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: New Housing Price Index, August 2026

How many Canadians spend more than 30% of income on housing?

In 2021, 20.9% of Canadian households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs, according to the 2021 Census of Population from Statistics Canada. Spending 30% or more of before-tax income on shelter is the standard affordability threshold used in Canada.

Over the decade to 2021, renter households grew by 21.5%, more than twice as fast as owner households. The 2021 figure may be affected by temporary pandemic benefits that raised some incomes in 2020, the income year used by the census. Figures from the 2026 Census are due from 2027. CMHC uses the same threshold in its measure of core housing need.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: To buy or to rent (2021 Census housing release)

What is Canada's urbanisation rate?

The UN Population Division puts the share of people living in urban areas in Canada at 82.9% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been higher. Worldwide: 36th of 193.

What share of Canada's city dwellers live in slums?

In 2022, the share of city dwellers living in slums in Canada was 1.1%, according to UN-Habitat. No year since 2006 has been higher. World rank, highest first: 125th of 170.

How many people in Canada have electricity?

According to the World Bank, the share of people with access to electricity in Canada was 100.0% in 2024. It has not changed since 2005. World rank, highest first: 1st of 193.

How many people in Canada have clean water?

96.9%: that is the share of people using safely managed drinking water in Canada for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. No year since 2005 has been lower. Worldwide: 35th of 134.

What share of people in Canada have safe sanitation?

In 2024, the share of people using safely managed sanitation in Canada was 81.3%, according to WHO and UNICEF. Since 2005 it has ranged from 76.2% (2005) to 81.3% (2022). Worldwide: 45th of 134.

What share of homes in Canada cook with clean fuels?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 100.0%. That is the highest since at least 2005. Worldwide: 1st of 192.