Marital Status

Marital status distribution for the population aged 15 and over. — 2021 Census of Population

Map loading...

Married (%)

Legally married (not common-law)

Distribution by riding

Share of adults who are married by federal riding, 2021 Census. Median 46.8%; range 17.0% (Laurier—Sainte-Marie) to 59.2% (Markham—Stouffville); half of ridings between 37.3% and 51.1%. Canada: 44.3%.

Colour

Find a riding

Canada 44.3%

Chart loading...

Vertical axis: Share of adults who are married (%)

Each dot is one federal riding (343 with a figure; 2023 Representation Order), placed by its value and spread across the axis so that dots do not overlap. The line marks the value for Canada as a whole (44.3%). Prairies: Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Atlantic: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. North: Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Highest and lowest ridings

Share of adults who are married by federal riding, 2021 Census. 343 ridings ranked from highest (1) to lowest; tied values share a rank. Bars start at zero on one scale; the vertical line marks the value for Canada (44.3%).

10 highest

The 10 ridings with the highest values: share of adults who are married, 2021 Census
Rank	Riding	Value
1	Markham—StouffvilleON	59.2%
2	Markham—UnionvilleON	58.6%
3	Brampton WestON	58.3%
3	Calgary SkyviewAB	58.3%
3	Carlton Trail—Eagle CreekSK	58.3%
6	Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond HillON	57.9%
6	Brampton EastON	57.9%
6	Burlington North—Milton WestON	57.9%
9	CarletonON	57.8%
9	Oakville EastON	57.8%

10 lowest

The 10 ridings with the lowest values: share of adults who are married, 2021 Census, lowest first
Rank	Riding	Value
343	Laurier—Sainte-MarieQC	17.0%
342	Rosemont—La Petite-PatrieQC	18.0%
341	Québec CentreQC	21.2%
340	Hochelaga—Rosemont-EstQC	22.7%
339	Beauport—LimoilouQC	24.2%
338	NunavutNU	25.1%
337	SherbrookeQC	25.2%
336	Trois-RivièresQC	25.6%
335	Toronto CentreON	25.9%
334	Rivière-du-NordQC	26.1%

All 343 ridings, ranked

All ridings ranked by share of adults who are married, 2021 Census, highest first
Rank	Riding	Province or territory	Value
1	Markham—Stouffville	Ontario	59.2%
2	Markham—Unionville	Ontario	58.6%
3	Brampton West	Ontario	58.3%
3	Calgary Skyview	Alberta	58.3%
3	Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek	Saskatchewan	58.3%
6	Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill	Ontario	57.9%
6	Brampton East	Ontario	57.9%
6	Burlington North—Milton West	Ontario	57.9%
9	Carleton	Ontario	57.8%
9	Oakville East	Ontario	57.8%
11	Portage—Lisgar	Manitoba	57.7%
12	King—Vaughan	Ontario	57.6%
13	Provencher	Manitoba	57.5%
14	Markham—Thornhill	Ontario	57.4%
15	Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North	Ontario	57.2%
16	Brampton North—Caledon	Ontario	57.1%
17	Calgary Crowfoot	Alberta	56.9%
18	Kitchener—Conestoga	Ontario	56.5%
18	Langley Township—Fraser Heights	British Columbia	56.5%
20	Milton East—Halton Hills South	Ontario	56.4%
21	Middlesex—London	Ontario	56.3%
22	Vaughan—Woodbridge	Ontario	56.2%
23	Oakville West	Ontario	56.1%
24	Thornhill	Ontario	56.0%
25	Edmonton Riverbend	Alberta	55.7%
26	Essex	Ontario	55.6%
27	Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley	Saskatchewan	55.4%
28	Calgary Shepard	Alberta	55.3%
29	Airdrie—Cochrane	Alberta	55.1%
30	Bow River	Alberta	54.9%
30	Mississauga—Streetsville	Ontario	54.9%
30	Terra Nova—The Peninsulas	Newfoundland and Labrador	54.9%
33	Brampton South	Ontario	54.8%
33	Delta	British Columbia	54.8%
33	Mississauga—Erin Mills	Ontario	54.8%
36	Richmond Hill South	Ontario	54.7%
36	Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan	Alberta	54.7%
38	Central Newfoundland	Newfoundland and Labrador	54.6%
38	Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford	British Columbia	54.6%
38	Niagara West	Ontario	54.6%
41	Foothills	Alberta	54.5%
41	Richmond East—Steveston	British Columbia	54.5%
41	South Surrey—White Rock	British Columbia	54.5%
44	Surrey Newton	British Columbia	54.4%
44	Wellington—Halton Hills North	Ontario	54.4%
46	Fleetwood—Port Kells	British Columbia	54.3%
46	Kanata	Ontario	54.3%
48	Huron—Bruce	Ontario	54.1%
49	New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury	Ontario	53.9%
50	Edmonton Southeast	Alberta	53.7%
51	St. Albert—Sturgeon River	Alberta	53.5%
52	Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam	British Columbia	53.4%
52	Malpeque	Prince Edward Island	53.4%
54	Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan	Saskatchewan	53.1%
54	Newmarket—Aurora	Ontario	53.1%
56	Battle River—Crowfoot	Alberta	53.0%
56	Calgary Signal Hill	Alberta	53.0%
58	Calgary McKnight	Alberta	52.9%
58	Nepean	Ontario	52.9%
60	Edmonton Gateway	Alberta	52.8%
60	Pickering—Brooklin	Ontario	52.8%
62	Ajax	Ontario	52.6%
62	Port Moody—Coquitlam	British Columbia	52.6%
64	Orléans	Ontario	52.5%
65	Dufferin—Caledon	Ontario	52.4%
66	Calgary Midnapore	Alberta	52.3%
66	Perth—Wellington	Ontario	52.3%
68	Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner	Alberta	52.2%
68	Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna	British Columbia	52.2%
68	Souris—Moose Mountain	Saskatchewan	52.2%
71	Calgary Heritage	Alberta	52.1%
71	Parkland	Alberta	52.1%
71	Whitby	Ontario	52.1%
74	Ponoka—Didsbury	Alberta	52.0%
74	Winnipeg South	Manitoba	52.0%
76	Tobique—Mactaquac	New Brunswick	51.8%
77	Avalon	Newfoundland and Labrador	51.7%
77	Cloverdale—Langley City	British Columbia	51.7%
79	Mississauga Centre	Ontario	51.6%
79	Yorkton—Melville	Saskatchewan	51.6%
81	Haldimand—Norfolk	Ontario	51.5%
81	Lanark—Frontenac	Ontario	51.5%
83	Mississauga—Malton	Ontario	51.3%
84	Elgin—St. Thomas—London South	Ontario	51.1%
84	Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes	Ontario	51.1%
84	Sackville—Bedford—Preston	Nova Scotia	51.1%
87	Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman	Manitoba	51.0%
88	Bowmanville—Oshawa North	Ontario	50.9%
88	Calgary Nose Hill	Alberta	50.9%
88	Oxford	Ontario	50.9%
88	Richmond Centre—Marpole	British Columbia	50.9%
88	Saanich—Gulf Islands	British Columbia	50.9%
93	Simcoe—Grey	Ontario	50.8%
94	Lac-Saint-Louis	Quebec	50.7%
94	Northumberland—Clarke	Ontario	50.7%
96	Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge	British Columbia	50.6%
97	Burlington	Ontario	50.5%
98	Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound	Ontario	50.4%
98	Edmonton West	Alberta	50.4%
98	Leduc—Wetaskiwin	Alberta	50.4%
101	Fundy Royal	New Brunswick	50.3%
101	Scarborough North	Ontario	50.3%
103	Don Valley North	Ontario	50.2%
103	York—Durham	Ontario	50.2%
105	Burnaby North—Seymour	British Columbia	50.1%
105	Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga	Ontario	50.1%
105	Kildonan—St. Paul	Manitoba	50.1%
105	Kitchener South—Hespeler	Ontario	50.1%
105	Yellowhead	Alberta	50.1%
110	Lakeland	Alberta	50.0%
111	Cardigan	Prince Edward Island	49.9%
111	Mississauga—Lakeshore	Ontario	49.9%
113	Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes	Ontario	49.7%
113	London West	Ontario	49.7%
113	Long Range Mountains	Newfoundland and Labrador	49.7%
113	Pierrefonds—Dollard	Quebec	49.7%
113	South Shore—St. Margarets	Nova Scotia	49.7%
118	Edmonton Northwest	Alberta	49.6%
118	Parry Sound—Muskoka	Ontario	49.6%
118	Saint John—St. Croix	New Brunswick	49.6%
121	Mississauga East—Cooksville	Ontario	49.5%
122	Brandon—Souris	Manitoba	49.4%
122	Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas	Ontario	49.4%
122	Regina—Lewvan	Saskatchewan	49.4%
122	Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong	Ontario	49.4%
126	Scarborough—Agincourt	Ontario	49.3%
126	Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby	British Columbia	49.3%
126	Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee	British Columbia	49.3%
129	Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies	British Columbia	49.2%
130	Chilliwack—Hope	British Columbia	49.1%
131	Saskatoon South	Saskatchewan	49.0%
132	Brampton—Chinguacousy Park	Ontario	48.9%
132	Don Valley West	Ontario	48.9%
134	Abbotsford—South Langley	British Columbia	48.7%
135	Hamilton East—Stoney Creek	Ontario	48.6%
136	Beauséjour	New Brunswick	48.5%
136	Etobicoke Centre	Ontario	48.5%
138	Egmont	Prince Edward Island	48.4%
138	Riding Mountain	Manitoba	48.4%
138	Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park	Ontario	48.4%
138	Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt	Ontario	48.4%
142	Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke	Ontario	48.3%
142	Chatham-Kent—Leamington	Ontario	48.3%
142	Saskatoon—University	Saskatchewan	48.3%
145	Courtenay—Alberni	British Columbia	48.2%
145	Lethbridge	Alberta	48.2%
145	North Vancouver—Capilano	British Columbia	48.2%
148	Winnipeg West	Manitoba	48.1%
149	Central Nova	Nova Scotia	47.9%
149	Peace River—Westlock	Alberta	47.9%
151	Barrie South—Innisfil	Ontario	47.8%
151	North Island—Powell River	British Columbia	47.8%
151	Prescott—Russell—Cumberland	Ontario	47.8%
151	Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay	British Columbia	47.8%
155	Acadie—Annapolis	Nova Scotia	47.7%
155	Fort McMurray—Cold Lake	Alberta	47.7%
155	West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country	British Columbia	47.7%
158	Burnaby Central	British Columbia	47.6%
158	Saint-Laurent	Quebec	47.6%
158	Winnipeg North	Manitoba	47.6%
161	Grande Prairie	Alberta	47.5%
161	Willowdale	Ontario	47.5%
163	Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish	Nova Scotia	47.3%
163	Eglinton—Lawrence	Ontario	47.3%
165	Cambridge	Ontario	47.2%
166	Cowichan—Malahat—Langford	British Columbia	47.1%
166	Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake	Ontario	47.1%
166	Regina—Wascana	Saskatchewan	47.1%
169	Surrey Centre	British Columbia	47.0%
170	Columbia—Kootenay—Southern Rockies	British Columbia	46.9%
171	Edmonton Manning	Alberta	46.8%
171	St. Boniface—St. Vital	Manitoba	46.8%
173	Kings—Hants	Nova Scotia	46.7%
174	Cariboo—Prince George	British Columbia	46.4%
175	Scarborough—Woburn	Ontario	46.3%
175	Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry	Ontario	46.3%
177	Miramichi—Grand Lake	New Brunswick	46.2%
178	Mount Royal	Quebec	46.1%
179	Halifax West	Nova Scotia	45.9%
179	Waterloo	Ontario	45.9%
179	Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore	Ontario	45.9%
182	Elmwood—Transcona	Manitoba	45.8%
183	Laval—Les Îles	Quebec	45.7%
183	New Westminster—Burnaby—Maillardville	British Columbia	45.7%
183	Red Deer	Alberta	45.7%
186	Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake	Saskatchewan	45.5%
187	Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte	Ontario	45.3%
188	Brampton Centre	Ontario	45.2%
188	Niagara South	Ontario	45.2%
188	Regina—Qu'Appelle	Saskatchewan	45.2%
191	Cumberland—Colchester	Nova Scotia	45.1%
191	Simcoe North	Ontario	45.1%
193	Bay of Quinte	Ontario	44.9%
193	Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations	Ontario	44.9%
193	Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke	British Columbia	44.9%
193	York Centre	Ontario	44.9%
197	Hamilton Mountain	Ontario	44.8%
198	Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma	Ontario	44.6%
199	Labrador	Newfoundland and Labrador	44.5%
199	Nipissing—Timiskaming	Ontario	44.5%
199	Peterborough	Ontario	44.5%
199	Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East	Ontario	44.5%
203	Beaches—East York	Ontario	44.2%
204	Cape Spear	Newfoundland and Labrador	44.1%
204	Etobicoke North	Ontario	44.1%
204	Prince Albert	Saskatchewan	44.1%
204	Saint John—Kennebecasis	New Brunswick	44.1%
204	Scarborough Southwest	Ontario	44.1%
209	Nanaimo—Ladysmith	British Columbia	44.0%
210	Guelph	Ontario	43.9%
210	Vancouver Quadra	British Columbia	43.9%
212	Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola	British Columbia	43.8%
213	Brossard—Saint-Lambert	Quebec	43.7%
214	Fredericton—Oromocto	New Brunswick	43.6%
214	Ottawa South	Ontario	43.6%
216	Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies	British Columbia	43.3%
216	Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel	Quebec	43.3%
216	Vancouver Kingsway	British Columbia	43.3%
219	Etobicoke—Lakeshore	Ontario	43.2%
220	Thunder Bay—Rainy River	Ontario	43.1%
221	Vaudreuil	Quebec	43.0%
222	Marc-Aurèle-Fortin	Quebec	42.6%
222	St. Catharines	Ontario	42.6%
224	Dartmouth—Cole Harbour	Nova Scotia	42.5%
225	Kelowna	British Columbia	42.3%
225	St. John's East	Newfoundland and Labrador	42.3%
227	Kitchener Centre	Ontario	42.0%
228	Calgary East	Alberta	41.9%
228	Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk	Ontario	41.9%
228	Winnipeg South Centre	Manitoba	41.9%
231	Honoré-Mercier	Quebec	41.8%
232	Thunder Bay—Superior North	Ontario	41.5%
233	Kingston and the Islands	Ontario	41.2%
233	Windsor West	Ontario	41.2%
235	Skeena—Bulkley Valley	British Columbia	41.1%
236	London—Fanshawe	Ontario	40.9%
236	Toronto—St. Paul's	Ontario	40.9%
238	Ottawa West—Nepean	Ontario	40.5%
239	Toronto—Danforth	Ontario	40.4%
240	Vancouver Granville	British Columbia	40.2%
241	Calgary Confederation	Alberta	40.1%
242	Alfred-Pellan	Quebec	40.0%
242	Madawaska—Restigouche	New Brunswick	40.0%
242	Moncton—Dieppe	New Brunswick	40.0%
242	Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi	Quebec	40.0%
242	Sudbury	Ontario	40.0%
247	Saskatoon West	Saskatchewan	39.9%
248	Vimy	Quebec	39.6%
249	Charlottetown	Prince Edward Island	39.5%
250	Kenora—Kiiwetinoong	Ontario	39.4%
251	Sydney—Glace Bay	Nova Scotia	39.3%
252	Oshawa	Ontario	39.2%
253	York South—Weston—Etobicoke	Ontario	39.1%
254	Humber River—Black Creek	Ontario	39.0%
255	Acadie—Bathurst	New Brunswick	38.2%
256	Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park	Ontario	37.8%
257	Davenport	Ontario	37.3%
257	Yukon	Yukon	37.3%
259	Edmonton Strathcona	Alberta	37.2%
260	Edmonton Griesbach	Alberta	37.1%
261	La Prairie—Atateken	Quebec	36.7%
261	Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount	Quebec	36.7%
263	Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’Acadie	Quebec	36.3%
264	Victoria	British Columbia	36.1%
265	Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle	Quebec	36.0%
266	Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville	Quebec	35.6%
267	Repentigny	Quebec	35.2%
268	Ahuntsic-Cartierville	Quebec	35.1%
268	Rivière-des-Mille-Îles	Quebec	35.1%
270	Northwest Territories	Northwest Territories	35.0%
271	London Centre	Ontario	34.9%
272	Gatineau	Quebec	34.5%
273	Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester	Ontario	34.3%
274	Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière	Quebec	33.9%
275	Brome—Missisquoi	Quebec	33.8%
275	Terrebonne	Quebec	33.8%
277	Ottawa Centre	Ontario	33.7%
278	Calgary Centre	Alberta	33.6%
279	Bourassa	Quebec	33.5%
280	Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères	Quebec	33.4%
281	Thérèse-De Blainville	Quebec	33.3%
282	Churchill—Keewatinook Aski	Manitoba	33.0%
283	Lac-Saint-Jean	Quebec	32.9%
284	Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation	Quebec	32.8%
284	Beauce	Quebec	32.8%
286	Hull—Aylmer	Quebec	32.3%
287	Compton—Stanstead	Quebec	32.1%
287	Longueuil—Saint-Hubert	Quebec	32.1%
289	Halifax	Nova Scotia	32.0%
290	Jonquière	Quebec	31.8%
291	Chicoutimi—Le Fjord	Quebec	31.7%
292	Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne	Quebec	31.5%
292	Louis-Hébert	Quebec	31.5%
292	Vancouver Centre	British Columbia	31.5%
295	Edmonton Centre	Alberta	31.2%
295	Laurentides—Labelle	Quebec	31.2%
295	Les Pays-d'en-Haut	Quebec	31.2%
298	Beloeil—Chambly	Quebec	31.0%
298	Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata	Quebec	31.0%
298	Hamilton Centre	Ontario	31.0%
298	Montmorency—Charlevoix	Quebec	31.0%
302	Vancouver East	British Columbia	30.9%
302	Winnipeg Centre	Manitoba	30.9%
304	Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis	Quebec	30.7%
304	University—Rosedale	Ontario	30.7%
306	Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier	Quebec	30.5%
307	Berthier—Maskinongé	Quebec	30.4%
307	Lévis—Lotbinière	Quebec	30.4%
309	Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk	Quebec	30.3%
310	Mirabel	Quebec	30.1%
311	Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon	Quebec	29.9%
311	Richmond—Arthabaska	Quebec	29.9%
311	Shefford	Quebec	29.9%
314	Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel—Alnôbak	Quebec	29.7%
315	Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj	Quebec	29.5%
315	Papineau	Quebec	29.5%
317	Saint-Jean	Quebec	29.1%
318	Saint-Maurice—Champlain	Quebec	29.0%
319	Abitibi—Témiscamingue	Quebec	28.9%
319	Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles	Quebec	28.9%
319	Joliette—Manawan	Quebec	28.9%
319	Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton	Quebec	28.9%
323	Drummond	Quebec	28.8%
324	Outremont	Quebec	28.3%
325	Montcalm	Quebec	28.2%
325	Rimouski—La Matapédia	Quebec	28.2%
327	Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River	Saskatchewan	28.1%
328	La Pointe-de-l'Île	Quebec	27.8%
328	Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs	Quebec	27.8%
330	LaSalle—Émard—Verdun	Quebec	27.6%
331	Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan	Quebec	27.2%
332	Spadina—Harbourfront	Ontario	27.1%
333	Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou	Quebec	26.7%
334	Rivière-du-Nord	Quebec	26.1%
335	Toronto Centre	Ontario	25.9%
336	Trois-Rivières	Quebec	25.6%
337	Sherbrooke	Quebec	25.2%
338	Nunavut	Nunavut	25.1%
339	Beauport—Limoilou	Quebec	24.2%
340	Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est	Quebec	22.7%
341	Québec Centre	Quebec	21.2%
342	Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie	Quebec	18.0%
343	Laurier—Sainte-Marie	Quebec	17.0%

Value: Legally married (not common-law). Riding names link to the riding's dissemination-area map for this topic.

◆

Marital Status — 2021 Census

Auto generated. Flag an issue.

Marital Status in Canada

Marital status patterns in Canada reflect deep cultural, religious, and regional divides. The 2021 Census found that 44.2 percent of Canadians aged 15 and over were legally married, 14.6 percent lived common-law, 27.5 percent had never married, 8.3 percent were separated or divorced, and 5.3 percent were widowed. But these national averages mask one of the sharpest provincial divides in the census: Quebec versus the rest of Canada.

Marriage

The highest marriage rates are in immigrant-heavy GTA suburbs and rural prairie ridings: Markham–Unionville (60.2%), Markham–Stouffville (59.0%), and Brampton West (58.3%). In the GTA ridings, South Asian and East Asian cultural norms strongly favour formal marriage. In the prairie ridings (Carlton Trail, Provencher, Portage–Lisgar), religious and cultural conservatism drives high marriage rates.

The lowest marriage rates are overwhelmingly in Quebec: Laurier–Sainte-Marie (17.0%), Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie (18.0%), and Québec Centre (21.3%). Six of the ten lowest-marriage ridings are in Quebec, reflecting the province's decades-long embrace of common-law unions as a social equivalent to marriage — a cultural shift that has no parallel elsewhere in Canada.

Common-Law Unions

Quebec dominates common-law partnerships to a degree unmatched anywhere in the developed world. Portneuf–Jacques-Cartier leads at 34.6 percent, followed by Lévis–Lotbinière (34.3%) and Montmorency–Charlevoix (33.4%). All ten ridings with the highest common-law rates are in Quebec. This is not a big-city phenomenon — rural Quebec has the highest rates, where common-law partnership has replaced marriage as the default family structure across all income levels and age groups.

Outside Quebec, common-law rates rarely exceed 15 percent. The cultural divide is so sharp that crossing the Ontario-Quebec border changes the marital landscape more dramatically than crossing any international boundary in the Western world.

Never Married

The never-married share captures young adults, urban singles, and communities with delayed or forgone family formation. Laurier–Sainte-Marie leads at 49.4 percent, where nearly half of adults aged 15+ have never married — reflecting both Quebec's cultural alternative to marriage and the riding's young, urban, solo-living population. Toronto Centre (48.2%) and Spadina–Harbourfront (48.0%) follow, driven by young professionals in condos.

Northern Indigenous ridings also rank high: Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River (47.6%) and Nunavut (42.7%). In these communities, high never-married rates reflect different factors: younger populations, lower life expectancy, and cultural practices that may not emphasize formal marriage.

Riding Rankings

Highest Marriage Rate

Rank	Riding	Married %
1	Markham–Unionville	60.2%
2	Markham–Stouffville	59.0%
3	Brampton West	58.3%
4	Carlton Trail–Eagle Creek	58.3%
5	Burlington North–Milton West	58.0%
6	Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill	57.9%
7	Calgary Skyview	57.9%
8	Brampton East	57.9%
9	Carleton	57.9%
10	Portage–Lisgar	57.7%

The highest-marriage ridings combine immigrant families (Markham, Brampton, Calgary Skyview) with rural conservative communities (Carlton Trail, Portage–Lisgar, Carleton). The common factor is family-oriented suburbia — these are ridings of houses, minivans, and school-age children where married-couple households are the overwhelming norm.

Lowest Marriage Rate

Rank	Riding	Married %
1	Laurier–Sainte-Marie	17.0%
2	Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie	18.0%
3	Québec Centre	21.3%
4	Hochelaga–Rosemont-Est	22.6%
5	Beauport–Limoilou	24.2%
6	Nunavut	25.0%
7	Sherbrooke	25.2%
8	Trois-Rivières	25.5%
9	Toronto Centre	25.9%
10	Rivière-du-Nord	26.0%

Six Quebec ridings, one northern riding (Nunavut), and one Toronto riding. The Quebec ridings are not low-marriage because of poverty or social dysfunction — Beauport–Limoilou and Rivière-du-Nord are middle-class communities — but because Quebecers have chosen common-law partnership as their preferred family structure. Toronto Centre is the lone non-Quebec, non-northern entry, reflecting its young, transient, condo-dwelling population.

Highest Common-Law Rate

Rank	Riding	Common-Law %
1	Portneuf–Jacques-Cartier	34.6%
2	Lévis–Lotbinière	34.3%
3	Montmorency–Charlevoix	33.4%
4	Mirabel	32.5%
5	Montcalm	32.4%
6	Les Pays-d'en-Haut	31.1%
7	Beloeil–Chambly	30.8%
8	Louis-Saint-Laurent–Akiawenhrahk	30.6%
9	Berthier–Maskinongé	30.5%
10	Pierre-Boucher–Les Patriotes–Verchères	30.4%

All ten are in Quebec. The Quiet Revolution, which secularized Quebec society in the 1960s, also undermined the Catholic Church's monopoly on marriage. Two generations later, common-law unions are so normalized that even conservative, church-going rural communities have rates above 30 percent. This makes Quebec a global outlier — no other jurisdiction of comparable size has so thoroughly replaced legal marriage with informal partnership.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population. Riding boundaries reflect the 2022 Federal Electoral Districts. Adapted from Statistics Canada; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.

◆

← Households & Families Occupation →

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population. Adapted from Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.