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Description - Figure 4: Household food insecurity in Canada by selected socio-demographic characteristics, 2007-2008

This bar graph shows the prevalence of household food insecurity in Canada in 2007-2008 based on the following selected socio-demographic characteristics: the main source of income, the highest level of education, Aboriginal status, immigrant status, home ownership and area of residence.

In 2007-2008, in Canada, all households, 7.7 per cent were food insecure: 5.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on main source of income:

• 6.1 per cent of households whose main source of income is salary/wages were food insecure: 4.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.8 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 55.5 per cent of households whose main source of income is social assistance were food insecure: 27.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 28.2 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 25.3 per cent of households whose main source of income is worker's compensation/employment insurance were food insecure: 14.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 11.1 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 4.8 per cent of households whose main source of income is pensions/seniors' benefits were food insecure: 3.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.5 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 12.8 per cent of households who had other main sources of income were food insecure: 8.1 per cent were moderately food insecure and 4.7 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on highest level of education achieved in the household:

• 14.0 per cent of households with less than secondary graduation were food insecure: 8.4 per cent were moderately food insecure and 5.6 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 9.2 per cent of households with secondary graduation were food insecure: 6.0 per cent were moderately food insecure and 3.2 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 14.0 per cent of households with some post-secondary graduation were food insecure: 8.6 per cent were moderately food insecure and 5.4 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 5.8 per cent of households with post-secondary graduation were food insecure: 3.9 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.9 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on Aboriginal status:

• 20.9 per cent of Aboriginal households were food insecure: 12.5 per cent were moderately food insecure and 8.4 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 7.2 per cent of non-Aboriginal households were food insecure: 4.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.5 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on immigrant status:

• 7.5 per cent of non-immigrant households were food insecure: 4.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.7 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 7.8 per cent of non-recent immigrant households (equal to or greater than 5 years) were food insecure: 5.7 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.2 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 12.6 per cent of recent immigrant households (less than 5 years) were food insecure: 8.8 per cent were moderately food insecure and 3.8E per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on home ownership:

• 3.5 per cent of households who own their dwelling were food insecure: 2.7 per cent were moderately food insecure and 0.8 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 17.2 per cent of households who do not own their dwelling were food insecure: 10.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 6.9 per cent were severely food insecure.

Based on area of residence:

• 8.1 per cent of households who reside in an urban area were food insecure: 5.2 per cent were moderately food insecure and 2.9 per cent were severely food insecure.
• 6.1 per cent of households who reside in a rural area were food insecure: 4.3 per cent were moderately food insecure and 1.8 per cent were severely food insecure.

Source: Health Canada

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2007-2008 - Share File, Household Weights

The superscript E denotes data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6 per cent to 33.3 per cent; interpret with caution