By Veeno Dewan
The rate of single people has been on the rise across the globe for decades, and according to data published earlier this year by The U.K.-based Economist magazine, there are estimated to be at least 100 million more single people in the world than just a decade ago. The rise of “singlehood” around the world has many contributing factors. Social upheavals such as the decline in dating, falling marriage rates, women choosing to prioritize their education, careers, and personal growth over marriage, and the economic difficulty of building families play an important part in the upsurge of single-family households.
Recent Statistics Canada Population Estimates report roughly 15.2 million unmarried individuals out of a total tracked marital-status population of about 38.2 million. According to Statistics Canada, single people (not living common-law) make up approximately 39.7% of the total population aged 15 and older in Canada. One-person households account for 29% of all households in Canada, representing a record high of 4.4 million people living entirely solo.
Why is Singlehood increasing?
In the past, society held negativeassumptions about singlehood. There was, and still is in certain cultures, particularly in Asian society, a stigma that if a person is single and not married, there is something “wrong” with them. Single people were often treated poorly by their family, friends, and society. However, by and large, singlehood is now accepted – at least in Western society – as normal.
Trends in living arrangements both reflect and influence socioeconomic conditions. Population growth and aging, urbanization, rising educational attainment, sustained immigration, rising ethnocultural diversity, and housing affordability have all contributed to shifts in the ways and reasons people prefer to live alone. Alternatives such as living alone, with roommates, or with extended family members have also grown in popularity.
Other societal shifts, such as growing relationship instability, the rise of non-cohabiting relationships, urbanization, changing lifestyle preferences, and the growth of high-rise apartments offering single-person dwellings, have also contributed to the rise in living alone among younger adults. More recently, the social and economic disruptions following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to changes in the living arrangements of some individuals. According to the Canadian Social Survey—Well-being, Unpaid Work and Family Time, about 1 in 10 adults (11%) surveyed from October to December 2021 reported that, because of the pandemic, they had experienced changes in their living arrangements, even if the changes were temporary.
In Canada, single-person households remain the most common household type, surpassing traditional couples with children. The rate of living alone is highest among adults aged 85 and older (42%), but solo living has grown fastest among middle-aged adults, doubling from 5% to 10% for those aged 35 to 44 over recent decades.
The Implications of single-person households
Experts agree that the rise of singledom raises many questions. Economists and planners ask: if single households do not have, or plan to have, children, what does that mean for the types of housing that need to be built in the future, given a declining birthrate? Also, as more people live alone, how will that affect future taxation, given that a smaller taxable population will emerge? And how will a smaller population drive economic growth in countries such as Canada, which already have low populations and even lower fertility rates? This is particularly important because household spending is the primary driver of GDP, and a declining or low birthrate can lead to slower economic growth. There are also concerns about the economic consequences of an aging population. With a shrinking labor force to contribute to public revenue at a time when demand for public services is higher than ever, how will future governments in countries such as Canada reconcile predicted revenue shortfalls? The diversification of living arrangements has implications for housing supply and demand, as well as for aging individuals’ care and support networks, spending, and economies of scale.
Looking at the Issue
In Canada, loneliness is one of the indicators in the recently established National Quality of Life Framework, which will be used to identify future policy priorities. That said, last year Canada was also ranked by Statistics Canada as an “ultra-low” fertility country, meaning only 1.5 children were born per woman—well below the replacement rate of 2.1. It is likely that the trend of decreasing couplehood and marriage rates will continue in Canada.
A commonly held belief is that single people are lonely, sad, and desperate for a partner. However, emerging research on single people suggests that this is not completely true. While some people do struggle with being single, many are happy, thriving, and not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship.Historically, many of the studies that examined singlehood compared single people to married people. These studies found that coupled people tend to be happier, healthier, and live longer than single people.
Single-person households are no longer considered unconventional. The perception of marriage as a social expectation or necessity has declined, and individuals are increasingly likely to prioritize personal happiness and well-being over conforming to traditional relationship norms. This shift in mindset will likely influence future generations’ decisions about couplehood and marriage. As we look ahead, we should recognize and respect that individual preferences and circumstances vary widely. Many individuals will still desire and pursue long-term partnerships, but the overall relationship landscape in Canada is likely to evolve.
Sources: Statistics Canada, Government of Canada, Canadian Social Survey report 2021, Canadian Census Date report 2021, Canadian Studies in Population Report 2021, Social Psychology Bulletin 2026. Canadian Social Survey—Well-being, Unpaid Work and Family Time.
