HiCO

Housing in Canada Online

Reference Counts and the Definition of CMHC's Core Housing Need Universe

Not all households enumerated by the Census of Canada can be assessed for core housing need. Housing adequacy and suitability can be measured for all households, while affordability can only be measured and interpreted for households that report positive incomes which exceed their shelter costs. Shelter-cost-to-income ratios (STIRs) for households with incomes less than or equal to zero, or STIRs derived from the census that are equal to or greater than 100% are considered uninterpretable by CMHC for the purpose of measuring affordability.

In addition, the Census does not collect shelter cost data for farm households and households living in band housing on, or outside, reserves. Without shelter costs, CMHC is unable to assess these households for the affordability component of core housing need.

CMHC therefore examines core housing need on a reduced universe of households for which all three housing standards (adequacy, affordability and suitability) can be applied. This universe includes only non-farm, non-band, non-reserve households with incomes greater than zero and shelter-cost-to-income ratios less than 100%. As a result, we are providing you with reference counts to show how the reduced universe differs from the complete universe of all private households.

For more information on CMHC's housing standards, please consult our Definitions.

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Suppression of Data

Census data obtained by CMHC are subject to Statistics Canada's suppression rules. These rules are required by law to ensure confidentiality.

Data may not sum to totals due to suppression and random rounding applied by Statistics Canada. Where there are a large number of households, rounding has little effect on accuracy and data suppression is rare. However, small cell counts (i.e.: counts falling below 100 households) and percentages based on those counts (like the incidence of need) may suffer considerable distortion as a result of random rounding and suppression.

Some data on average household income, average shelter costs and average STIRs are suppressed by Statistics Canada to ensure confidentiality. For more information regarding the suppression of census data, please consult Statistics Canada's 2006 Census Dictionary.

HiCO Reference Counts

Reference household counts for Canada, the provinces and the territories are included below so that you may use them as a verification tool. Whenever you create a table from HiCO, we recommend that you include the total for Canada or at least one province or territory in your table. The total(s) you have included in your table(s) can then be checked against those we have provided in the reference count tables included below.

For example, if you create a table to study Canada, the reference count tables below show that you should have a total of 11,766,145 households in your table. This is the total number of households tested for core housing need in 2006.

For all the reference count tables:

Households excluded from examination for core housing need consist of households living on farms, on reserves or in band housing outside reserves as well as any households with incomes less than or equal to zero and/or shelter-cost-to-income ratios (STIRs) greater than or equal to 100%.

Households examined for core housing need include non-farm, non-band, non-reserve households with incomes greater than zero and STIRs less than 100%.

For more information on the source of the data used in HiCO, please click here.

Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
British Columbia
Yukon Territory
Northwest Territories
Nunavut

Canada
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	12,437,470		11,562,975		10,820,050		10,018,265
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	671,325		757,360		792,210		646,535
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	11,766,145	100.0	10,805,615	100.0	10,027,840	100.0	9,371,730	100.0
Above Housing Standards	8,177,025	69.5	7,556,660	69.9	6,798,750	67.8	6,532,510	69.7
Below Housing Standards	3,589,120	30.5	3,248,955	30.1	3,229,090	32.2	2,839,225	30.3
Not in Core Housing Need	2,094,725	17.8	1,763,615	16.3	1,661,910	16.6	1,569,240	16.7
In Core Housing Need	1,494,395	12.7	1,485,335	13.7	1,567,180	15.6	1,269,980	13.6
Aboriginal households examined for core housing need in HiCO	401,145	100.0	297,285	100.0	218,310	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	239,645	59.7	168,555	56.7	111,845	51.2	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	161,495	40.3	128,735	43.3	106,465	48.8	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	79,685	19.9	57,470	19.3	40,375	18.5	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	81,810	20.4	71,265	24.0	66,090	30.3	n.a.	n.a.

Newfoundland and Labrador
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	197,185		189,040		185,495		174,495
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	5,425		7,375		7,680		4,735
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	191,760	100.0	181,665	100.0	177,815	100.0	169,760	100.0
Above Housing Standards	144,025	75.1	134,020	73.8	130,890	73.6	123,535	72.8
Below Housing Standards	47,730	24.9	47,650	26.2	46,925	26.4	46,220	27.2
Not in Core Housing Need	20,425	10.7	21,040	11.6	20,615	11.6	21,590	12.7
In Core Housing Need	27,310	14.2	26,605	14.6	26,305	14.8	24,630	14.5
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	9,685	100.0	6,650	100.0	4,625	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	6,630	68.5	4,180	62.9	2,860	61.8	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	3,055	31.5	2,470	37.1	1,760	38.1	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	1,180	12.2	985	14.8	790	17.1	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	1,870	19.3	1,485	22.3	975	21.1	n.a.	n.a.

Prince Edward Island
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	53,135		50,800		47,960		44,475
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	2,250		2,730		2,830		2,775
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	50,885	100.0	48,070	100.0	45,130	100.0	41,700	100.0
Above Housing Standards	36,505	71.7	35,035	72.9	32,165	71.3	30,540	73.2
Below Housing Standards	14,375	28.2	13,035	27.1	12,965	28.7	11,165	26.8
Not in Core Housing Need	7,945	15.6	6,835	14.2	6,905	15.3	5,580	13.4
In Core Housing Need	6,435	12.6	6,195	12.9	6,060	13.4	5,580	13.4
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	705	100.0	385	100.0	315	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	450	63.8	220	57.1	190	60.3	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	250	35.5	165	42.9	125	39.7	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	175	24.8	70	18.2	45	14.3	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	75	10.6	95	24.7	85	27.0	n.a.	n.a.

Nova Scotia
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	376,840		360,020		342,595		324,375
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	16,080		20,350		19,545		14,730
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	360,760	100.0	339,670	100.0	323,050	100.0	309,645	100.0
Above Housing Standards	256,880	71.2	239,775	70.6	224,205	69.4	218,250	70.5
Below Housing Standards	103,880	28.8	99,895	29.4	98,845	30.6	91,395	29.5
Not in Core Housing Need	60,120	16.7	48,310	14.2	50,740	15.7	49,330	15.9
In Core Housing Need	43,760	12.1	51,585	15.2	48,105	14.9	42,070	13.6
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	8,595	100.0	4,620	100.0	2,630	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	5,435	63.2	2,865	62.0	1,525	58.0	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	3,160	36.8	1,755	38.0	1,105	42.0	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	1,765	20.5	710	15.4	550	20.9	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	1,395	16.2	1,040	22.5	555	21.1	n.a.	n.a.

New Brunswick
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	295,960		283,820		271,155		253,710
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	11,755		14,995		15,455		10,435
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	284,205	100.0	268,825	100.0	255,700	100.0	243,275	100.0
Above Housing Standards	210,215	74.0	195,735	72.8	181,625	71.0	173,360	71.3
Below Housing Standards	73,990	26.0	73,090	27.2	74,080	29.0	69,910	28.7
Not in Core Housing Need	44,630	15.7	43,100	16.0	39,340	15.4	30,505	12.5
In Core Housing Need	29,365	10.3	29,990	11.2	34,730	13.6	39,405	16.2
Aboriginal households examined for core housing need in HiCO	5,750	100.0	4,755	100.0	2,195	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	3,555	61.8	2,645	55.6	1,145	52.2	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	2,195	38.2	2,110	44.4	1,045	47.6	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	1,325	23.0	1,070	22.5	495	22.6	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	875	15.2	1,040	21.9	550	25.1	n.a.	n.a.

Quebec
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	3,189,340		2,978,115		2,822,030		2,634,300
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	127,925		165,340		200,405		154,385
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	3,061,415	100.0	2,812,775	100.0	2,621,625	100.0	2,479,915	100.0
Above Housing Standards	2,192,805	71.6	2,016,245	71.7	1,779,620	67.9	1,711,510	69.0
Below Housing Standards	868,615	28.4	796,535	28.3	842,005	32.1	768,405	31.0
Not in Core Housing Need	544,025	17.8	444,180	15.8	415,355	15.8	408,415	16.5
In Core Housing Need	324,590	10.6	352,355	12.5	426,650	16.3	359,990	14.5
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	39,560	100.0	23,410	100.0	19,920	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	24,810	62.7	14,440	61.7	11,440	57.4	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	14,745	37.3	8,965	38.3	8,480	42.6	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	8,305	21.0	4,515	19.3	3,885	19.5	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	6,445	16.3	4,450	19.0	4,590	23.0	n.a.	n.a.

Ontario
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	4,555,025		4,219,415		3,924,510		3,638,360
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	235,880		237,870		244,195		204,460
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	4,319,145	100.0	3,981,545	100.0	3,680,315	100.0	3,433,900	100.0
Above Housing Standards	2,896,670	67.1	2,723,375	68.4	2,422,530	65.8	2,360,560	68.7
Below Housing Standards	1,422,475	32.9	1,258,170	31.6	1,257,785	34.2	1,073,335	31.3
Not in Core Housing Need	794,940	18.4	658,510	16.5	663,540	18.0	665,305	19.4
In Core Housing Need	627,535	14.5	599,655	15.1	594,250	16.1	408,035	11.9
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	101,225	100.0	72,310	100.0	50,245	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	62,240	61.5	43,315	59.9	26,510	52.8	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	38,990	38.5	28,995	40.1	23,735	47.2	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	20,050	19.8	14,100	19.5	9,845	19.6	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	18,940	18.7	14,900	20.6	13,885	27.6	n.a.	n.a.

Manitoba
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	448,780		432,550		419,385		405,120
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	34,465		42,735		44,765		41,050
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	414,320	100.0	389,815	100.0	374,620	100.0	364,070	100.0
Above Housing Standards	302,070	72.9	280,680	72.0	265,745	70.9	258,295	70.9
Below Housing Standards	112,245	27.1	109,135	28.0	108,870	29.1	105,775	29.1
Not in Core Housing Need	65,330	15.8	63,740	16.4	53,860	14.4	55,255	15.2
In Core Housing Need	46,920	11.3	45,390	11.6	55,010	14.7	50,525	13.9
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	50,700	100.0	38,950	100.0	28,935	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	30,045	59.3	21,765	55.9	14,030	48.5	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	20,660	40.7	17,190	44.1	14,905	51.5	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	9,295	18.3	7,120	18.3	5,060	17.5	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	11,365	22.4	10,065	25.8	9,835	34.0	n.a.	n.a.

Saskatchewan
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	387,145		379,675		372,820		363,150
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	40,500		56,610		58,385		58,785
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	346,650	100.0	323,065	100.0	314,435	100.0	304,365	100.0
Above Housing Standards	253,040	73.0	240,045	74.3	238,290	75.8	229,215	75.3
Below Housing Standards	93,605	27.0	83,020	25.7	76,145	24.2	75,145	24.7
Not in Core Housing Need	52,770	15.2	45,860	14.2	36,460	11.6	29,740	9.8
In Core Housing Need	40,840	11.8	37,160	11.5	39,680	12.6	45,405	14.9
Aboriginal households examined for core housing need in HiCO	35,360	100.0	29,600	100.0	22,480	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	19,190	54.3	15,535	52.5	10,655	47.4	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	16,165	45.7	14,065	47.5	11,820	52.6	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	6,910	19.5	5,565	18.8	3,870	17.2	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	9,255	26.2	8,500	28.7	7,950	35.4	n.a.	n.a.

Alberta
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	1,256,200		1,104,095		979,175		910,390
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	72,225		89,915		88,005		81,660
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	1,183,975	100.0	1,014,180	100.0	891,170	100.0	828,730	100.0
Above Housing Standards	860,220	72.7	738,750	72.8	643,285	72.2	598,000	72.2
Below Housing Standards	323,755	27.3	275,430	27.2	247,885	27.8	230,730	27.8
Not in Core Housing Need	204,700	17.3	169,150	16.7	147,105	16.5	124,950	15.1
In Core Housing Need	119,055	10.1	106,285	10.5	100,775	11.3	105,780	12.8
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	65,460	100.0	48,125	100.0	34,115	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	40,850	62.4	27,665	57.5	18,050	52.9	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	24,610	37.6	20,465	42.5	16,065	47.1	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	13,400	20.5	10,940	22.7	6,875	20.2	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	11,205	17.1	9,530	19.8	9,190	26.9	n.a.	n.a.

British Columbia
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	1,643,150		1,534,335		1,424,635		1,243,890
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	123,015		117,605		109,240		72,515
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	1,520,135	100.0	1,416,730	100.0	1,315,395	100.0	1,171,375	100.0
Above Housing Standards	1,003,735	66.0	934,590	66.0	863,055	65.6	814,475	69.5
Below Housing Standards	516,400	34.0	482,140	34.0	452,340	34.4	356,900	30.5
Not in Core Housing Need	294,925	19.4	258,465	18.2	223,370	17.0	174,395	14.9
In Core Housing Need	221,475	14.6	223,670	15.8	228,970	17.4	182,510	15.6
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	68,810	100.0	55,025	100.0	40,725	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	38,515	56.0	28,810	52.4	19,475	47.8	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	30,295	44.0	26,215	47.6	21,250	52.2	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	14,945	21.7	10,525	19.1	7,095	17.4	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	15,350	22.3	15,690	28.5	14,160	34.8	n.a.	n.a.

Yukon Territory
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	12,610		11,360		11,460		9,915
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	1,110		1,140		1,225		620
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	11,505	100.0	10,220	100.0	10,235	100.0	9,295	100.0
Above Housing Standards	8,005	69.6	6,905	67.6	6,685	65.3	6,010	64.7
Below Housing Standards	3,495	30.4	3,310	32.4	3,550	34.7	3,285	35.3
Not in Core Housing Need	1,615	14.0	1,700	16.6	1,580	15.4	1,770	19.0
In Core Housing Need	1,880	16.3	1,615	15.8	1,970	19.2	1,515	16.3
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	2,615	100.0	2,100	100.0	1,680	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	1,555	59.5	1,235	58.8	925	55.1	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	1,055	40.3	860	41.0	755	44.9	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	415	15.9	330	15.7	260	15.5	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	640	24.5	530	25.2	495	29.5	n.a.	n.a.

Northwest Territories
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	14,240		12,565		18,825		16,075
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	550		580		480		370
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	13,690	100.0	11,985	100.0	18,345	100.0	15,705	100.0
Above Housing Standards	8,840	64.6	7,645	63.8	10,650	58.1	8,755	55.7
Below Housing Standards	4,845	35.4	4,345	36.3	7,700	42.0	6,950	44.3
Not in Core Housing Need	2,455	17.9	2,255	18.8	3,030	16.5	2,405	15.3
In Core Housing Need	2,390	17.5	2,085	17.4	4,665	25.4	4,540	28.9
Aboriginal households examined for core housing need in HiCO	6,690	100.0	5,770	100.0	10,455	100.0	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	3,675	54.9	3,145	54.5	5,035	48.2	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	3,020	45.1	2,625	45.5	5,420	51.8	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	1,265	18.9	1,165	20.2	1,595	15.3	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	1,760	26.3	1,460	25.3	3,825	36.6	n.a.	n.a.
Note that, in 1999, Nunavut was established as a territory distinct from the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.). As a result, beginning with the 2001 Census, data for Nunavut are presented exclusive of N.W.T. To compare 2001 Census data for N.W.T. to N.W.T. data in earlier censuses, the 2001 data for the N.W.T. and Nunavut must be combined.

Nunavut
	2006		2001		1996		1991
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
All Private Households	7,855		7,170		n.a.		n.a.
Households Excluded from Examination for Core Housing Need in HiCO	155		100		n.a.		n.a.
Households Examined for Core Housing Need in HiCO	7,700	100.0	7,070	100.0	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	4,005	52.0	3,855	54.5	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	3,695	48.0	3,210	45.4	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	825	10.7	470	6.6	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	2,865	37.2	2,740	38.8	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Aboriginal households examioned for core housing need in HiCO	5,995	100.0	5,580	100.0	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Above Housing Standards	2,695	45.0	2,730	48.9	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Below Housing Standards	3,300	55.0	2,855	51.2	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Not in Core Housing Need	650	10.8	370	6.6	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
In Core Housing Need	2,650	44.2	2,485	44.5	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Note that, in 1999, Nunavut was established as a territory distinct from the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.). As a result, beginning with the 2001 Census, data for Nunavut are presented exclusive of N.W.T.