Overview of the Economic Situation of Older Persons in Canada, 1976 to 2022

In Canada, the low-income rates of women and men aged 65 years and older have dropped significantly over the past decades, especially from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. While the low-income situations of older women and men followed a similar pattern from 1976 to 2022, older women have had lower income and higher rates of low income than older men throughout the period studied. Moreover, government transfers accounted for a larger part of older women's income. Using multiple data sets, a new study released today looks at the low-income rates, income, and sources of income of older persons in Canada—with a special focus on different groups of older women.