Confidentiality procedures
To ensure the protection of taxpayer information, data have been suppressed where warranted. Also, counts are rounded to the nearest multiple of 10. For example, 104 would be rounded to 100 and 105 would be rounded to 110. Dollar amounts have been rounded to the nearest thousand in all tables. Totals may not add up due to rounding or suppression. A zero (0) indicates that the information has been suppressed for confidentiality purposes. Suppressed information also includes valid zeroes.
Data source
Income data were taken from the T1 General Income Tax and Benefit Returns and related schedules filed by individuals for the 2021 tax year.
Major classification variables
The following variables are used in one or more of the tables in this publication:
province or territory of residence;
age;
gender;
marital status;
with or without children;
census metropolitan area;
forward sortation area.
In Table 1, the province or territory of residence refers to the province or territory in which the recipient lived on December 31 of the tax year, as indicated on their income tax and benefit return.
Age
For Table 2, the age of the recipient was calculated by using the birth date on their income tax and benefit return.
For Table 2, gender is determined from the information currently on file with the CRA for that individual. Gender is defined to be female, male, gender diverse, or unknown. Individuals whose gender is non-binary are represented in the gender diverse category. The unknown category refers to individuals whose gender is unavailable.
Marital status
For Table 3, two categories of marital status were used. For the purposes of this publication, different categories of marital status have been combined as either "married" or "not married". "Not married" includes all single, separated, divorced, and widowed recipients. "Married" includes all married and common-law recipients.
With or without children
In Table 3, with children or without children refers to whether the recipient or their spouse reported having children. The child or children must be under 18 to be included in the "with children" category.
Census metropolitan area
In Table 4, census metropolitan area (CMA) refers to a main labour market area, formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered on a large urban area (known as the urban core). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more must live in the urban core. To be included in the CMA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the central urban area, as measured by commuting flows derived from census place of work data.
Forward sortation area
Canada Post defines a forward sortation area (FSA) as the first three characters of a postal code representing a set of well-defined specific areas within a major geographic region, province or territory. The first character identifies the province or territory; the second character identifies whether the area is urban or rural; and the third character, in combination with the first two characters, identifies a more precise geographic district - a specific rural region, an entire medium-sized city or a section of a major metropolitan area.
Description of CWB items
Tax year: This refers to the tax year for which the CWB was claimed.
CWB recipients: This refers to the number of recipients who received the CWB for the tax year.
Assessed CWB credit: This refers to the total net CWB credit issued to recipients, or the amount used to offset their debt to the CRA after taking into account adjustments.
Eligible recipient: A recipient is eligible for the CWB if they
earn a working income and their net income is below the level set for their province or territory of residence;
are a resident of Canada throughout the year;
are 19 years of age or older on December 31, or live with their spouse or common-law partner or their child.
Description of CWB tables
Tables contain the number of recipients and their respective CWB amounts. In some cases, the total of the figures in the table may not match the total shown due to rounding or suppression for confidentiality purposes.
Table 1 – Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Province/Territory, 2021
This table presents the number of CWB recipients and amount credited by the province or territory of residence as reported on the tax filer's income tax and benefit return. For details on the province of residence classification, please refer to Province or territory of residence .
Table 2 – Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Age and Gender, 2021
This table presents the number of CWB recipients and amount credited based on the recipient's age and gender. It is grouped into thirteen age groups and four different gender groups. For details on gender groups, please refer to Gender .
Table 3 – Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Family Status, 2021
This table presents the number of CWB recipients and amount credited based on family status. Family status is defined by marital status and whether the recipient reported having children. For the purpose of this publication, marital statuses are grouped under two classifications: not married and married. Also, recipients are grouped under two further classifications: with children and without children.
Table 4 – Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Census Metropolitan Area, 2021
This table presents the number of CWB recipients and amount credited by the census metropolitan area (CMA) of the tax filer. CMAs were assigned using the 2021 Standard Geographical Classification , which is used by Statistics Canada to classify statistical information by geographic areas.
Table 5 – Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Forward Sortation Area, 2021
This table presents the number of CWB recipients and amount credited based on the first three digits of the postal codes otherwise known as the forward sortation area (FSA).
Tables in PDF format
Please refer to the explanatory notes about these tables.
Tables in CSV format
Please refer to the explanatory notes about these tables.
Table 1: Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Province/Territory, 2021
Notes:
All counts are rounded to the nearest ten and all amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand. The sum of the data may not add to the total, due to rounding.
Data are as of June 30, 2023 and are subject to change.
'Outside Canada' includes Canadians living abroad that are deemed residents for tax purposes.
Table 2: Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Age and Gender, 2021
Notes:
All counts are rounded to the nearest ten and all amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand. The sum of the data may not add to the total, due to rounding.
A zero (0) indicates that the information has been suppressed for confidentiality purposes. Suppressed information also includes valid zeroes.
Data are as of June 30, 2023 and are subject to change.
'Unknown' refers to individuals whose gender is unavailable.
Table 3: Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Family Status, 2021
Notes:
All counts are rounded to the nearest ten and all amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand. The sum of the data may not add to the total, due to rounding.
Data are as of June 30, 2023 and are subject to change.
'Not Married' includes all single, separated, divorced, and widowed recipients. 'Married' includes all married and common-law recipients.
'With Children' or 'Without Children' refers to whether the recipient or their spouse reported having children.
Table 4: Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Census Metropolitan Area, 2021
Notes:
All counts are rounded to the nearest ten and all amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Data are as of June 30, 2023 and are subject to change.
Census metropolitan areas were assigned using the 2021 Standard Geographical Classification.
Table 5: Number of CWB recipients and amount credited by Forward Sortation Area, 2021
Notes:
All counts are rounded to the nearest ten and all amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand.
A zero (0) indicates that the information has been suppressed for confidentiality purposes. Suppressed information also includes valid zeroes.
Data are as of June 30, 2023 and are subject to change.
