Did you know that in Canada, the prevalence of single-parent households has been on the rise over the years? According to Statistics Canada, there has been a significant increase in the number of single parents in the country. More specifically, in 2022, about 1.84 million single parent families were living in Canada, compared to 1.56 million in 2010 (see more data here).
According to the latest available data, approximately 1 in 4 Canadian children live in a single-parent household. This accounts for around 1.6 million children across the country. The majority of these households are headed by single mothers, making up about 80% of all single-parent families.
The reasons for this increase can be attributed to various factors such as divorce, separation, or individuals choosing to have children without being in a committed relationship. Financial challenges are on the rise for most Canadian families, but especially felt by single parent households since they typically bear all expenses and responsibilities on their own.
Financially, single mothers often face unique hardships. Many are forced to navigate the complexities of managing a household budget with limited resources. In fact, studies show that single mothers are more likely to experience poverty compared to other family types.
To address these challenges, various government programs and initiatives have been implemented to support single parents financially. These include child support payments, tax benefits, and subsidized housing options. However, despite these efforts, many single mothers still struggle to make ends meet.
The goal of this post is to highlight that single motherhood and its challenges are more common than many people think. Even as single mothers, we can feel alone in our struggles. Statistics, however, tell us that there is a steady growth in single-mother families. You are not alone. By talking about our challenges more openly, we all can bring much needed changes to the policies and benefits that are dedicated to help single mothers provide for their children, who are the growing next generation of Canadians.