About 4.4 million Canadians lived by themselves in 2021, up from 1.7 million in 1981, according to 2021 census data published by Statistics Canada .“This represented 15% of all adults aged 15 and older in private households in 2021, the highest share on record,” said Statistics Canada in a Wednesday press release. .Despite the increase in solo living, the press release said the number of one-person households was low in Canada compared to other countries, comprising 29.3% in 2021. It said among G7 countries, the United States was the one country beating out Canada at 28.5% in 2021. .The press release said solo living is going up among people aged 35 to 44 years old, rising from 5% in 1981 to 10% in 2021. It added the number of women aged 65 years old and older living alone decreased over time. .Statistics Canada said the number of people living alone in 2021 was highest in Quebec at 19%. It was lowest in Nunavut at 8%. .Households composed of roommates, said the press release, were the fastest-growing household type. The number of roommate households increased by 54% from 2001 to 2021. .About one million households in 2021 were composed of multiple generations of a family, two or more families, or one family living with other people. These households have grown by 45% in 20 years and represent 7% of all households in 2021..The share of people aged 20 to 34 living in the same household as at least one of their parents was unchanged from 2016 to 2021 (35%). An additional 15% of people in their 20s and early 30s lived with roommates in 2021. .“The diversification of living arrangements has implications for housing supply and demand, as well as individuals' care and support networks, spending, and economies of scale,” said Statistics Canada. .A poll from the Angus Reid Institute in 2018 suggested Canadians were caring less about marriage..About 47% of Canadians said it is important to them a couple planning to spend the rest of their lives together marry. According to the poll, 53% of respondents said “marriage is simply not necessary.”.A majority of respondents said marriage is “a more genuine form of commitment” than living in a common-law relationship.
