By the Numbers - Portrait of Canadian Youth

Ottawa – August 2, 2018 –  Statistics Canada reports that today’s generation of young Canadians — ages 15 to 34 — is more diverse, connected, educated and socially engaged than ever. Evolving technologies and better education have brought benefits, but the Stats Canada survey Portrait of Canadian Youth also reveals that a significant number of Canadian youth face challenges such as finding a fulltime job, social exclusion, cyberbullying, and physical and mental health challenges.

  • 9 million – There are 9 million youth across the country (ages 15- 34); about one-quarter of Canada’s population. In 1970, youth made up one-third of the population (many of them are today’s retirees).

  • 27% – Of the youth surveyed, 27% identified themselves as a member of a visible minority group, compared to 13% in 1996.

  • 39% – The fastest growing youth group is comprised of First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth, which since 2006 has grown by 39%, compared to just over 6% for non-Indigenous youth.

  • 20% – About 20% of employed men aged 25 -34 work in professional occupations; 10% in technical occupations; about 18% in industrial positions; and 11% work in personal and customer service occupations.

  • 30% – About 30% of employed women aged 25-34 work in professional occupations; 15% in technical occupations; 17% in administration; and 19% work in personal and customer service occupations.

  • 41.8% – Percentage of women, 25-34, with a Bachelor’s degree or higher (up from 14.7% in 1990).

  • 29.3% - Percentage of men, 25-34, with a Bachelor’s degree or higher (up from 15.2% in 1990).

  • 81.6% – Percentage of men, 25-34, working fulltime (30 hours or more a week).

  • 67.2% – Percentage of women, 25-34, working fulltime (30 hours or more a week).

  • 18% – The percentage of youth aged 25 to 34 with a university degree working in occupations requiring high school education or less.

  • 10.5% – Percentage of young Canadians aged 25 to 34 reporting that they had temporarily lived with family, friends, in their car, or someplace else because they had nowhere else to live – a situation referred to as ‘hidden' or ‘concealed' homelessness.

  • 15% – Percentage of youth aged 15 to 34 who reported they were cyberbullied or cyberstalked in the past 5 years.

  • 35% – Heavy drinking for males aged 20 to 34 was 35% in 2016, down from almost 40% in 2003. Heavy drinking for young women increased from 17% in 2003 to 23% in 2016.

SOURCE: Statistics Canada (2018) Portrait of Canadian Youth.