Common-law Unions Soar
- As of May 15, 2001, Ontario had 3,190,990 families, up
from 2,932,725 in 1996. The 2001 Census counted 2,406,340
married couples, 298,540 common-law couples and 486,105
lone-parent families.
- The 2001 Census showed that an increasing proportion of
couples are living common-law. The number of common-law
unions in Ontario increased by 31%, almost six times the
rate of increase of 5.4% among married couples.
- Married couples accounted for 75% of all families in 2001,
down from 77.8% in 1996 and 80.9% in 1991. At the same time,
the proportion of common-law couples rose from 6.6% in 1991
to 7.8% in 1996 and 9.4% in 2001.
- Married or common-law couples with children aged 24 and
under living at home represented 45% of all families in
2001. Couples who had no children under 25 living at home
accounted for 34.8% of all families.
Same-sex Common-law Couples
- For the first time, the 2001 Census provides data on same-sex
partnerships.
- A total of 12,505 same-sex common-law couples were counted
in Ontario, representing 0.5% of all couples in the province.
They represented 37% of the national total of 34,200 same-sex
partnerships.
- Ontario's proportion of same-sex couples equaled
Canada, but was lower than in Quebec, British Columbia and
the Yukon.
- 6,685 or 53.5% of Ontario's same-sex couples live
in the Toronto CMA.
Households: Living Alone Rising
- The Census counted 4,219,410 households in Ontario in
2001, up from 3,924,515 in 1996. The increase of smaller
households was the biggest contributor to the growth of
private households.
- In 2001, about 990,165 people lived alone in Ontario,
up 11.5% from 1996.They accounted for 23.5% of all households.
In 1996, they accounted for 22.6%.
- Households consisting of five or more people accounted
for 11.1% of all households in 2001, down from 11.4% in
1996.
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