Household Food Insecurity In Canada in 2007-2008: Key Statistics and Graphics

This pie chart shows the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada in 2007-2008.

In 2007-2008, 92.3 per cent of Canadian households were food secure. 7.7 per cent of Canadian households were food insecure; 5.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

Source: Health Canada

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2007-2008 – Share File, Household Weights

This bar graph shows the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada in 2007-2008 based on household composition (all households with children and all households without children).

In 2007-2008, in Canada, all households, 7.7 per cent were food insecure: 5.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Canada, all households with children, 9.7 per cent were food insecure: 7.0 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.8 per cent were severely food insecure. Among households with children:

• 22.9 per cent of lone parent households were food insecure: 14.9 per cent were moderately food insecure and 8.0 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 6.3 per cent of couple led households were food insecure: 4. 9 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.4 per cent were severely food insecure
• 10.8 per cent of households with at least one child under the age of 6 years were food insecure: 8.0 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.8 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 9.0 per cent of households with no children under the age of 6 were food insecure: 6.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 9.0 per cent of households with one or two children were food insecure: 6.4 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.6 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 14.0 per cent of households with three or more children were food insecure: 10.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 3.8 per cent were severely food insecure.
• In Canada, all households without children, 6.8 per cent were food insecure: 4.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.6 per cent were severely food insecure. Among households without children:
• 3.1 per cent of couple households were food insecure: 2.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 0.8 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 10.5 per cent of households of unattached individuals were food insecure: 6.0 per cent were moderately food insecure and 4.5 per cent were severely food insecure.

Source: Health Canada

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2007-2008 - Share File, Household Weights

This bar graph shows the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada in 2007-2008 by income distribution decile.

• In 2007-2008, in Canada, all households, 7.7 per cent were food insecure: 5.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 0.3E per cent of the households in the tenth household income distribution decile were food insecure.
• 0.7 per cent of the households in the ninth household income distribution decile were food insecure.
• 1.4 per cent of the households in the eighth household income distribution decile were food insecure.
• 1.9 per cent of the households in the seventh household income distribution decile were food insecure: 1.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 0.7E per cent were severely food insecure.
• 3.1 per cent of the households in the sixth household income distribution decile were food insecure: 2.4 per cent were moderately food insecure and 0.8E per cent were severely food insecure.
• 4.0 per cent of the households in the fifth household income distribution decile were food insecure: 3.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 0.9 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 7.1 per cent of the households in the fourth household income distribution decile were food insecure: 5.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.9 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 9.4 per cent of the households in the third household income distribution decile were food insecure: 6.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.6 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 14.1 per cent of the households in the second household income distribution decile were food insecure: 9.6 per cent were moderately food insecure and 4.5 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 32.5 per cent of the households in the first household income distribution decile were food insecure: 18. 6 per cent were moderately food insecure and 13.9 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 4.8 per cent of households for which household income data was not available were food insecure: 3.4 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.4 per cent were severely food insecure.

Source: Health Canada

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2007-2008 – Share File, Household Weights

The superscript E denotes data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6 per cent to 33.3 per cent; interpret with caution

¹ The territories were not included

This bar graph shows the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada in 2007-2008 based on the following selected socio-demographic characteristics: the main source of income, the highest level of education, Aboriginal status, immigrant status, home ownership and area of residence.

In 2007-2008, in Canada, all households, 7.7 per cent were food insecure: 5.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on main source of income:

• 6.1 per cent of households whose main source of income is salary/wages were food insecure: 4.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.8 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 55.5 per cent of households whose main source of income is social assistance were food insecure: 27.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 28.2 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 25.3 per cent of households whose main source of income is worker's compensation/employment insurance were food insecure: 14.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 11.1 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 4.8 per cent of households whose main source of income is pensions/seniors' benefits were food insecure: 3.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.5 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 12.8 per cent of households who had other main sources of income were food insecure: 8.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 4.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on highest level of education achieved in the household:

• 14.0 per cent of households with less than secondary graduation were food insecure: 8.4 per cent were moderately food insecure and 5.6 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 9.2 per cent of households with secondary graduation were food insecure: 6.0 per cent were moderately food insecure and 3.2 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 14.0 per cent of households with some post-secondary graduation were food insecure: 8.6 per cent were moderately food insecure and 5.4 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 5.8 per cent of households with post-secondary graduation were food insecure: 3.9 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.9 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on Aboriginal status:

• 20.9 per cent of Aboriginal households were food insecure: 12.5 per cent were moderately food insecure and 8.4 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 7.2 per cent of non-Aboriginal households were food insecure: 4.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.5 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on immigrant status:

• 7.5 per cent of non-immigrant households were food insecure: 4.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 7.8 per cent of non-recent immigrant households (equal to or greater than 5 years) were food insecure: 5.7 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.2 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 12.6 per cent of recent immigrant households (less than 5 years) were food insecure: 8.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 3.8E per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on home ownership:

• 3.5 per cent of households who own their dwelling were food insecure: 2.7 per cent were moderately food insecure and 0.8 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 17.2 per cent of households who do not own their dwelling were food insecure: 10.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 6.9 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on area of residence:

• 8.1 per cent of households who reside in an urban area were food insecure: 5.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.9 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 6.1 per cent of households who reside in a rural area were food insecure: 4.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.8 per cent were severely food insecure.

Source: Health Canada

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2007-2008 - Share File, Household Weights

The superscript E denotes data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6 per cent to 33.3 per cent; interpret with caution

This bar graph shows the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada in 2007-2008 for all provinces and territories.

In 2007-2008, in Canada, all households, 7.7 per cent were food insecure: 5.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

In British Columbia:

• In 2007-2008, 7.7 per cent of all households were food insecure: 4.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.9 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Alberta:

• In 2007-2008, 6.4 per cent of all households were food insecure: 4.5 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.9 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Saskatchewan:

• In 2007-2008, 6.3 per cent of all households were food insecure: 4.6 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.6 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Manitoba:

• In 2007-2008, 9.3 per cent of all households were food insecure: 6.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 3.1 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Ontario:

• In 2007-2008, 8.2 per cent of all households were food insecure: 5.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 3.0 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Quebec:

• In 2007-2008, 6.9 per cent of all households were food insecure: 4.6 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.3 per cent were severely food insecure.

In New Brunswick:

• In 2007-2008, 9.7 per cent of all households were food insecure: 6.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 3.6 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Nova Scotia:

• In 2007-2008, 9.3 per cent of all households were food insecure:6.6 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Prince Edward Island:

• In 2007-2008, 10.6 per cent of all households were food insecure: 7.7 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.9 per cent were severely food insecure.

In Newfoundland and Labrador:

• In 2007-2008, 9.6 per cent of all households were food insecure: 7.0 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

In the Yukon:

• In 2007-2008, 11.6 per cent of all households were food insecure: 6.4E per cent were moderately food insecure and 5.2E per cent were severely food insecure.

In the Northwest Territories:

• In 2007-2008, 12.4 per cent of all households were food insecure: 9.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.6E per cent were severely food insecure.

In Nunavut:

• In 2007-2008, 32.6 per cent of all households were food insecure: 21.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 11.5E per cent were severely food insecure.

Source: Health Canada

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2007-2008 - Share File, Household Weights

The superscript E denotes data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6 per cent to 33.3 per cent; interpret with caution

Map of Canada showing if food insecurity in each of the provinces and territories in 2007-2008 was below the Canadian average, near the Canadian average or above the Canadian average.

British Columbia: Near Canadian Average
Alberta: Below Canadian Average
Saskatchewan: Below Canadian Average
Manitoba: Above Canadian Average
Ontario: Above Canadian Average
Quebec: Below Canadian Average
New Brunswick: Above Canadian Average
Nova Scotia: Above Canadian Average
Prince Edward Island: Above Canadian Average
Newfoundland and Labrador: Above Canadian Average
Yukon Territory: Above Canadian Average
Northwest Territories: Above Canadian Average
Nunavut: Above Canadian Average

Source: Health Canada

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2007-2008 – Share File, Household Weights