Insights on Canadian Society
Debt and assets among senior Canadian families

past Sharanjit Uppal

Release date: April iii, 2019

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Overview of the study

Using data from the Survey of Fiscal Security (SFS), this article looks at changes in debt, assets and net worth among senior Canadian families over the period from 1999 to 2016. It besides examines changes in the debt-to-income ratio and the debt-to-asset ratio of senior families with debt.

  • In 2016, the proportion of senior families with debt was 42%, up from 27% in 1999. The proportion with mortgage debt about doubled from 8% to 14%, and the share of those with consumer debt increased from 24% to 37%.
  • Amidst senior families with debt, the median corporeality of debt was $25,000 in 2016, up from $nine,000 in 1999 (expressed in 2016 constant dollars). The median level of avails held by these families also rose, from $327,000 to $607,400 (in 2016 constant dollars).
  • Around two-thirds of the total increase in the debt of seniors was attributable to an increase in mortgage debt. With regard to assets, existent manor assets contributed to more than 1-half of the overall increase in the value of seniors' assets.
  • The net worth of a family corresponds to the total amount of assets, minus the full amount of debt held by family members. In 2016, the median cyberspace worth of senior families with debt was $537,400, up from $298,900 in 1999.
  • Between 1999 and 2016, the median debt-to-income ratio for senior families with debt more doubled from 0.24 to 0.52. Withal, the debt-to-asset ratio inverse little, from 0.05 in 1999 to 0.06 in 2016.

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Introduction

The proportion of the Canadian population aged 65 and over has been on the ascension over the past few decades, especially during the 2000s. In 1971, individuals aged 65 and over comprised 8% of the Canadian population. Note In 1999, this proportion was 12%, and by 2017 it was nearly 17%. It is projected to increment further, to 24%, past 2036. Note As a outcome of population aging, there is a growing body of inquiry related to Canadian seniors. Recent studies have looked at their labour market activity, Note income replacement rates, Note time use, Note and life satisfaction. Note This study adds to the trunk of inquiry by examining the economic well-being of seniors as measured by indebtedness.

Household indebtedness, for the population every bit a whole, has risen over fourth dimension. This is possibly due to factors such as easier access to credit, rise house prices and consumerism. The ratio of household debt to personal disposable income doubled from 86 in the outset quarter of 1990 to 176 in the terminal quarter of 2018. Notation This implies that, on average, households owed $ane.76 for every dollar of income at the end of 2018. Policymakers have been concerned past this loftier ratio, particularly in relation to rising firm prices and predictable increases in interest rates.

Given that household debt has been ascension over time, it is likely that a greater proportion of individuals are entering their retirement years carrying debt. Debt tin can be particularly problematic for seniors as repayment tin can be more than difficult on a reduced income. Existing Canadian studies related to household debt have mostly focused on the adult population every bit a whole. Note 1 study focusing on older individuals (retired and aged 55 and over) used 2009 data. Note Since then, the economy has been characterized by tape-low interest rates and rising house prices, 2 factors that can greatly affect a household'due south balance canvass.

Debt values, even so, must be understood in relation to assets. For instance, mortgage debt is backed by an nugget—the value of the business firm. If the value of avails is fairly large in relation to the debt a household carries, a high debt-to-income ratio is non necessarily synonymous with financial stress. Hence, the purpose of this article is to look at both debt and assets, and to provide a profile of the net worth held by Canadian seniors.

This paper focuses on all families with debt whose major income earner was 65 or over. Annotation Using data from the Survey of Fiscal Security (SFS), this study examines debt and nugget indicators over the menstruation from 1999 to 2016 across demographic characteristics such equally historic period, pedagogy, family unit structure, dwelling house ownership and family unit income (see the section Data sources, methods and definitions). In addition, it looks at two cardinal indicators of indebtedness: the debt-to-income ratio and the debt-to-asset ratio (for a give-and-take on income, encounter the section Sources of family unit income among senior families). All numbers in this article are expressed in 2016 dollars using the Consumer Price Index (All Items) every bit a deflator.

More than than 4 in 10 senior families had debt in 2016

In 2016, the proportion of senior families with debt was 42%, up from 27% in 1999 (Table 1). Note The share with mortgage debt most doubled, going from eight% to 14%, while that with consumer debt increased from 24% to 37%. These proportions and changes over time, notwithstanding, varied beyond family characteristics.


Table 1
Percentage of senior families with debt, 1999 and 2016
Table summary
This tabular array displays the results of Percentage of senior families with debt 1999, 2016, Any debt, Mortgage debt and Consumer debt, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing every bit column headers).
1999 2016
Any debt Mortgage debt Consumer debt Any debt Mortgage debt Consumer debt
percent
Senior families with debt 27.4 vii.vii 24.3 42.0 Note* xiii.nine Note* 37.4 Note*
Sex of major income earner
Male person 31.1 9.4 27.4 45.4 Note* 15.9 Note* 40.1 Note*
Female 22.7 five.5 20.3 37.8 Note* xi.four Annotation* 34.0 Note*
Age of major income earner
65 to 69 41.5 13.v 37.ix 58.2 Note* 22.7 Notation* 51.5 Note*
70 to 74 28.2 eight.0 24.9 47.8 Note* fifteen.two Note* 42.three Note*
75 to 79 22.2 4.8 NoteE: Use with caution 18.9 38.2 Annotation* 10.viii Note* 35.3 Note*
80 and over 11.half-dozen 2.1 NoteDue east: Use with caution 9.vii xx.i Annotation* 4.5 17.vi Note*
Highest level of education of major income earner
Less than high school 25.3 5.0 23.3 33.eight Note* 10.0 Note* xxx.1 Notation*
High school diploma 27.5 11.six 23.2 41.half-dozen Annotation* thirteen.0 37.2 Annotation*
Non-university postsecondary certificate or diploma 29.2 8.6 NoteE: Use with circumspection 24.seven 47.8 Annotation* 15.1 Notation* 43.5 Note*
Academy caste or document 35.0 13.6 thirty.0 48.0 Note* 19.4 41.3 Note*
Family structure Table 1 Notationane
Unattached private 20.0 iii.ix NoteE: Use with caution 17.half-dozen 33.2 Note* 9.ane Note* 29.6 Notation*
Male 21.1 4.eight NotationDue east: Utilise with caution eighteen.7 35.four Note* 9.2 thirty.5 Note*
Female person 19.v 3.6 NotationDue east: Use with caution 17.2 32.ane Note* nine.1 Note* 29.one Note*
Couple, no children 30.5 nine.4 26.5 46.iii Note* 16.five Note* xl.8 Note*
Other family types 45.5 15.5 NoteEast: Employ with caution 42.2 66.six Note* 26.1 lx.6 Note*
Immigrant status of major income earner
Immigrant 25.3 10.4 21.4 37.half dozen Note* xv.5 Note* 32.viii Note*
Canadian-born 28.0 half-dozen.9 25.1 43.5 Note* 13.3 38.9 Note*
Home ownership status Tabular array 1 Noteii
Owners with a mortgage 100 100 57.five 100 100 67.five
Owners without a mortgage 21.six 1.4 AnnotationE: Utilise with caution 21.three 35.vii Note* 3.two Annotation* 34.iv Note*
Non-owners 23.5 NoteF: too unreliable to exist published 23.2 31.v Note* 0.iv NoteE: Employ with caution 31.4 Annotation*
Labour strength status of major income earner
Employee 60.6 27.3 NoteE: Utilise with caution 54.9 66.9 Note* 30.nine 61.viii
Self-employed 37.1 21.7 NoteE: Use with caution 29.four NoteEastward: Utilise with circumspection 62.6 Note* thirty.1 53.8 Note*
Not in the labour forcefulness 26.1 six.five 23.2 37.9 Note* 11.0 Notation* 33.6 Note*
Family income quintile
Bottom quintile 21.ix 3.viii NoteDue east: Apply with caution 20.6 35.ix Note* 8.seven 31.nine Note*
Second quintile 23.one 4.iv AnnotationEastward: Use with caution twenty.5 33.0 Annotation* 8.4 Note* 29.3 Note*
Middle quintile 29.2 7.2 NoteE: Apply with caution 25.6 44.9 Note* 13.i Note* forty.3 Note*
Fourth quintile 32.6 11.nine 28.2 47.7 Note* 18.one Note* 43.3 Annotation*
Superlative quintile thirty.ii eleven.iii 26.5 48.5 Notation* 21.one Notation* 42.0 Note*
Province or region of residence
Atlantic 45.0 viii.iii 41.0 50.eight 13.two 47.9
Quebec 27.5 6.5 NoteE: Use with caution 26.half dozen 40.one Note* eleven.4 Notation* 36.0 Annotation*
Ontario 25.2 seven.9 22.3 41.0 Note* xiii.four Note* 36.ix Note*
Manitoba 18.ix 4.v NoteEast: Employ with circumspection 16.ii 38.8 Note* 12.9 34.v Note*
Saskatchewan 21.2 NoteF: as well unreliable to be published 20.0 29.half-dozen 10.5 NoteE: Apply with caution 25.nine
Alberta 24.iii 8.8 NoteEastward: Use with caution 20.0 46.4 Note* 19.9 Note* 40.0 Note*
British Columbia 28.7 10.4 21.6 44.4 Note* xviii.0 Note* 37.1 Note*

Senior families in younger age groups were more likely to be in debt. For example, in 2016, families whose major income earner was between the ages of 65 and 69 were nearly three times more than likely to have debt than families whose major income earner was at least lxxx. Among the first group, about vi in 10 (58%) had debt, while among older seniors aged 80 and over, 1 in 5 (twenty%) had debt.

Working seniors were also more likely to have debt than non-working seniors, which suggests that working seniors, due to college incomes, take a higher capacity to borrow. Still, information technology is also possible that older workers who still have debt are staying in the labour market longer in gild to pay it off. The likelihood of having debt too increased with the level of income. Close to half of seniors in the top income quintile had debt compared with slightly more than than 1-third of those in the bottom quintile. Other studies have also found a positive relationship between debt and income, as higher income families have a higher capacity to borrow. Note

Other types of families who were more probable to have debt included families whose major income earners were males, families with higher levels of educational activity, Canadian-born families, and "other" family types (that did not consist of a couple or an unattached person). Note At least half of senior families residing in Atlantic Provinces had some debt (51%), compared with 30% of senior families in Saskatchewan.

Between 1999 and 2016, the percentage of seniors with debt increased for all categories of senior families. Nonetheless, the increase was faster in some cases. Equally a result, even though the associations between various personal characteristics and the likelihood of holding debt were similar in 1999 and 2016, in that location were quantitative changes. For case, in 1999, the proportions of families with debt among those aged 65 to 69 and 80 and over were 42% and 12%, respectively, a gap of thirty percentage points. Past 2016, this gap widened to 38 percentage points. Similarly, the gap between the top and bottom income quintiles increased from eight percentage points in 1999 to thirteen pct points in 2016.

Both debt and avails recorded significant gains between 1999 and 2016

The focus of the paper at present shifts to senior families with debt. In 2016, the median amount of debt held past senior families with debt was $25,000 (Table 2), upwards from $ix,000 in 1999 (expressed in 2016 constant dollars). The median level of assets held by these families too rose, from $327,000 to $607,400 (in 2016 constant dollars).


Table 2
Median debt and assets, senior families with debt, 1999 and 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Median debt and assets Median debt, Median assets, 1999, 2016 and Change, calculated using 2016 constant dollars units of measure (appearing every bit column headers).
Median debt Median assets
1999 2016 Change 1999 2016 Change
2016 constant dollars
Senior families with debt 9,000 25,000 16,000 Annotation* 327,000 607,400 280,400 Note*
Sex of major income earner
Male thirteen,800 thirty,000 xvi,200 Note* 408,700 682,400 273,700 Notation*
Female iv,700 NotationE: Use with circumspection twenty,000 15,300 198,200 489,400 291,200 Notation*
Historic period of major income earner
65 to 69 13,300 NotationE: Employ with caution 35,500 22,200 403,400 668,300 264,900 Note*
70 to 74 10,400 21,000 x,600 278,600 657,000 378,400 Note*
75 to 79 five,500 NoteE: Use with caution 25,000 nineteen,500 253,900 576,200 322,300 Annotation*
80 and over F F F 256,000 449,200 193,200 Annotation*
Highest level of education of major income earner
Less than loftier school 4,800 NotationE: Employ with circumspection 20,000 xv,200 237,300 310,900 73,600
High school diploma F 19,000 NoteEast: Employ with circumspection F 357,200 472,600 115,400
Non-academy postsecondary document or diploma ten,100 NoteEastward: Employ with caution 23,000 12,900 360,700 609,900 249,200
University caste or document 26,300 NoteE: Apply with caution 46,100 NoteE: Use with caution xix,800 NoteE: Utilize with caution 766,700 1,164,700 398,000 Note*
Family unit structure Table 2 Note1
Unattached private 3,500 NotationEastward: Use with caution 13,000 NoteE: Use with caution nine,500 179,700 301,000 121,300 Annotation*
Male person F 12,200 NoteE: Use with caution F 259,800 315,200 55,400
Female F 13,800 NoteE: Use with caution F 163,700 279,000 115,300
Couple, no children xiii,800 35,000 21,200 425,000 802,900 377,900 Note*
Other family types F F F 357,200 882,400 525,200 Note*
Immigrant condition of major income earner
Immigrant 15,800 NoteEastward: Use with caution 40,100 NotationE: Employ with circumspection 24,300 NoteE: Use with caution 363,500 794,700 431,200 Note*
Canadian-born 8,300 21,000 12,700 321,400 557,700 236,300 Note*
Home ownership status Tabular array 2 Noteii
Owners with a mortgage 66,300 120,000 53,700 407,600 728,300 320,700 Note*
Owners without a mortgage 6,900 18,000 eleven,100 421,600 849,000 427,400 Notation*
Non-owners 2,100 NotationE: Use with caution five,000 ii,900 54,200 NotationE: Use with circumspection 70,300 NoteEast: Utilise with caution xvi,100 NotationE: Use with caution
Labour force condition of major income earner
Employee F 77,000 NoteE: Utilise with circumspection F 500,100 NotationE: Use with caution 716,700 216,600 NoteE: Use with caution
Cocky-employed 69,100 NoteE: Utilize with circumspection 95,300 NoteE: Use with caution 26,200 NoteE: Use with caution 665,000 NoteE: Use with caution 1,116,400 451,400 NoteE: Use with caution
Non in the labour force seven,200 19,000 xi,800 304,300 548,800 244,500 Note*
Family unit income quintile
Bottom quintile 3,500 NoteE: Use with circumspection eight,000 NotationE: Utilize with caution 4,500 NotationEastward: Use with caution 69,900 AnnotationEastward: Use with caution 93,500 NoteE: Utilize with caution 23,600 NoteE: Apply with caution
Second quintile five,500 NotationE: Use with circumspection 13,600 NotationE: Employ with caution eight,100 NoteE: Use with caution 149,300 339,500 190,200 Notation*
Middle quintile nine,700 AnnotationEastward: Use with caution 21,000 NoteDue east: Use with caution 11,300 NoteE: Utilize with caution 328,600 630,500 301,900 Note*
Quaternary quintile 13,900 NoteDue east: Use with caution 45,000 31,100 501,600 957,200 455,600 Note*
Height quintile F 74,000 F 750,000 i,538,800 788,800 Notation*
Province or region of residence
Atlantic 6,900 18,000 eleven,100 185,500 408,100 222,600 Notation*
Quebec 8,300 NoteEast: Use with circumspection 16,500 8,200 NoteE: Use with caution 275,200 406,000 130,800
Ontario 8,600 NoteE: Use with caution 32,000 23,400 420,400 775,100 354,700 Note*
Manitoba F 25,000 NoteE: Utilize with caution F 274,900 NoteE: Use with circumspection 595,000 320,100
Saskatchewan F F F 342,100 NoteEastward: Use with caution 745,200 403,100 AnnotationEastward: Use with caution
Alberta 15,200 NoteEast: Use with caution 53,400 NoteE: Use with caution 38,200 349,800 695,000 345,200 Note*
British Columbia 13,800 NotationEastward: Use with caution 31,000 NoteE: Use with caution 17,200 NoteEast: Apply with circumspection 367,700 850,100 482,400 Annotation*

Debt and asset levels varied across family unit characteristics. Age is an important factor, as both debt and assets subtract with age. This is expected considering seniors use assets to finance consumption, as income becomes lower in retirement relative to consumption levels. Note

Higher levels of instruction are associated with higher levels of debt and assets: families in which the major income earner held a university caste had more than twice the level of debt and almost four times the level of assets as those whose major income earner did non finish high school.

Debt and asset levels also varied across the income distribution. The level of debt among families in the top income quintile was nine times higher than the level for families in the bottom income quintile. The difference was even more pronounced for assets. Those in the top income quintile had assets that were sixteen times higher than the level for those in the bottom quintile ($1,538,800 versus $93,500).

Senior immigrant families had twice as much debt and i and a half times equally many assets equally the Canadian-born. The cocky-employed had debt levels comparable to those of employees, but had more assets. Unattached seniors had lower debt and asset levels than couples and other family types.

At the regional/provincial level in 2016, senior families in Quebec and Atlantic Provinces had the lowest levels of both debt and assets. On the other hand, seniors in Alberta had the highest level of debt, while those in British Columbia had the highest level of assets. Note

Just like asset and debt levels varied across family characteristics, changes over the period as well varied across characteristics. Between 1999 and 2016, median debt rose amid all age groups under the age of lxxx, but most significantly amid families in the 65-to-69 and 75-to-79 historic period groups. Families whose major income earner had less than a loftier school diploma and those with a non-university postsecondary diploma faced a pregnant increase in median debt levels.

Debt increased faster amongst families with higher incomes. For example, betwixt 1999 and 2016, debt increased seven times more for seniors in the fourth income quintile than for those in the bottom quintile. Other family categories with notable increases in median debt included homeowners with a mortgage and those non in the labour force.

For the most part, increases in debt were accompanied by increases in avails. The value of avails increased significantly for all age groups, particularly for those in their seventies. In 1999, people in their seventies had low asset levels relative to those aged 65 to 69, but this gap narrowed significantly in 2016. These results suggest that more than recent cohorts of seniors earned more income and accumulated more than wealth over their life cycles than before generations of seniors, in role because they were better educated and because women participated more in the labour market.

Higher levels of education were associated with greater increases in the level of avails. The level for seniors with a university degree increased by $398,000, compared with $73,600 for those with less than a high schoolhouse diploma.

The disparity in the level of avails among those in the top and bottom of the income distribution increased over time. The level for those in the elevation income quintile more than than doubled, from $750,000 in 1999 to $ane,538,800 in 2016. In comparison, for those in the lesser quintile, asset levels did not increment significantly during the same period.

Other family categories that saw significant increases in their level of assets, including gains of over $400,000 (in real terms), were homeowners without a mortgage, immigrants, and seniors living in British Columbia. The next department discusses the sources of the increment in the debt and assets of senior Canadians.

Changes in debt and assets were mostly related to housing

In recent years, housing prices increased considerably in Canada. According to the monthly Housing Price Index published by the Canadian Real Estate Clan (CREA), housing prices rose by 109.viii% (in nominal terms) betwixt January 2005 and December 2016. Annotation Changes in the Canadian real estate market likely affected the balance sheet of Canadian families.

This department examines the extent to which increases in assets and debt are related to housing (i.e., mortgage debt and real estate avails). The decompositions are based on changes in average values for each family category.

Between 1999 and 2016, average debt increased by $l,000 and average assets rose by $500,900 (Table 3). Changes in average debt or asset values are typically larger than changes in median values given that averages are likely to exist influenced by farthermost values at the elevation of the distribution; yet, it is necessary to use average values in order to disentangle the sources of the changes in debt or assets.


Table 3
Decomposition of changes in average debt and assets across family characteristics, senior families with debt, 1999 to 2016
Table summary
This tabular array displays the results of Decomposition of changes in average debt and avails across family unit characteristics Alter in average debt, Change in average assets, Modify, 1999 to 2016, Due to mortgage debt, Due to consumer debt, Due to real estate assets, Due to pension assets and Due to other assets, calculated using constant 2016 dollars and percentage units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Change in boilerplate debt Change in boilerplate assets
Change, 1999 to 2016 Due to mortgage debt Due to consumer debt Modify, 1999 to 2016 Due to real estate assets Due to pension assets Due to other assets
constant 2016 dollars per centum constant 2016 dollars percent
Senior families with debt 50,000 67.ii 32.eight 500,900 51.7 12.3 36.0
Sex of major income earner
Male 62,700 69.5 30.v 567,000 53.0 8.1 39.0
Female 32,400 60.ii 39.8 426,500 47.9 22.0 xxx.2
Age of major income earner
65 to 69 45,700 63.7 36.3 526,200 49.4 10.8 39.viii
70 to 74 64,700 NoteE: Use with caution 68.1 NoteDue east: Use with caution 31.9 NotationE: Employ with caution 590,600 47.7 xv.3 37.0
75 to 79 52,300 NotationEastward: Use with caution 72.2 NoteDue east: Use with circumspection 27.8 NoteEast: Use with caution 394,800 57.6 xviii.2 24.2
80 and over 33,100 NoteEast: Apply with caution 68.2 NoteE: Use with caution 31.viii NotationE: Apply with circumspection 404,500 64.iii vii.half-dozen 28.two
Highest level of education of major income earner
Less than high school xl,900 72.4 27.six 265,400 65.nine 0.vi 33.five
High school diploma 31,400 AnnotationEast: Use with circumspection 55.0 NoteE: Employ with caution 45.0 NoteE: Use with caution 294,000 56.0 -14.4 58.4
Non-university postsecondary certificate or diploma 39,100 59.iii forty.7 396,700 54.iii twenty.iii 25.four
University degree or document 66,200 NoteE: Use with caution 67.2 NoteE: Apply with caution 32.8 NotationE: Use with caution 771,700 52.6 13.8 33.half dozen
Family structure Table 3 Notation1
Unattached individual 25,500 NoteEast: Use with circumspection 63.iv NoteE: Use with circumspection 36.6 AnnotationE: Employ with caution 270,700 47.2 22.seven 30.1
Male person 20,000 NoteE: Use with caution 69.2 NotationE: Utilize with caution thirty.8 NoteE: Use with caution 274,300 48.7 19.half dozen 31.7
Female 27,100 NoteE: Utilize with caution 62.3 NoteE: Employ with caution 37.7 NoteE: Use with caution 257,800 47.3 24.2 28.5
Couple, no children 56,500 62.eight 37.ii 581,600 55.2 11.six 33.ii
Other family unit types 102,800 NoteDue east: Utilise with caution 76.v NoteE: Use with caution 23.5 NotationE: Use with circumspection 849,800 48.2 half dozen.seven 45.one
Immigrant status of major income earner
Immigrant 55,700 NoteEast: Utilise with caution 65.9 NoteE: Use with caution 34.1 NotationEast: Use with circumspection 585,600 64.iv 5.half dozen 29.ix
Canadian-born 47,500 67.3 32.7 472,300 46.8 xv.0 38.2
Home buying status Table 3 Note2
Owners with a mortgage 86,100 82.0 18.0 447,800 65.two 6.6 28.two
Owners without a mortgage 46,700 NoteEast: Apply with caution 51.8 NoteEast: Use with caution 48.2 AnnotationEastward: Employ with circumspection 748,800 48.five xi.6 39.9
Non-owners F NotationF: too unreliable to exist published NoteF: also unreliable to be published 41,200 NoteDue east: Utilise with caution -12.vi NoteE: Utilise with caution 80.8 NoteEastward: Use with caution 31.vii NotationEastward: Use with caution
Labour forcefulness status of major income earner
Employee ninety,500 69.7 30.3 592,200 48.7 xiv.9 36.4
Cocky-employed 118,000 AnnotationE: Use with caution 80.vii NotationE: Utilise with caution nineteen.three NoteE: Use with caution 985,200 47.viii v.1 47.1
Not in the labour force 29,400 57.5 42.5 376,700 55.2 16.three 28.5
Family income quintile
Bottom quintile 20,700 NoteE: Utilise with caution 63.9 AnnotationDue east: Use with caution 36.1 NotationE: Use with caution 75,900 NoteE: Employ with caution 103.8 NoteE: Use with circumspection 6.0 NoteE: Utilise with caution -9.8 NoteEastward: Use with caution
Second quintile 29,800 NoteEast: Use with caution 71.1 NoteE: Use with circumspection 28.ix NoteEast: Employ with caution 244,800 69.7 11.seven xviii.five
Middle quintile 31,100 56.2 43.8 388,400 42.0 23.3 34.7
Fourth quintile 42,400 NoteE: Use with circumspection fifty.7 NoteE: Employ with caution 49.3 NotationE: Use with caution 554,100 52.6 11.4 36.0
Top quintile 126,500 75.2 24.8 1,247,200 47.6 9.8 42.half-dozen
Province or region of residence
Atlantic 29,200 55.8 44.2 293,100 35.2 31.6 33.2
Quebec 26,100 67.1 32.9 252,000 49.8 14.seven 35.5
Ontario 39,500 AnnotationE: Use with caution 56.8 NoteE: Employ with caution 43.two NoteE: Utilise with caution 578,100 50.0 7.9 42.1
Manitoba 48,700 NoteE: Use with caution 78.8 NotationEast: Use with caution 21.two AnnotationE: Use with circumspection 503,500 43.8 21.vii 34.5
Saskatchewan 47,400 NoteE: Utilise with circumspection 85.five AnnotationEastward: Utilize with caution fourteen.5 AnnotationE: Use with caution 597,800 44.0 23.0 33.0
Alberta 152,500 NoteE: Use with caution 77.4 NoteE: Use with circumspection 22.6 NoteEast: Use with circumspection 935,500 52.one 10.7 37.3
British Columbia 64,400 66.2 33.8 555,500 66.0 12.7 21.3

Around two-thirds of the total increase in boilerplate debt was owing to the increase in mortgage debt, while the rest was due to an increase in consumer debt. The contribution of mortgage debt to the increment in full debt was somewhat larger among the least-educated and the nearly-educated families. For example, mortgage debt was responsible for 72% of the growth in total debt amidst families whose major income earner did not terminate high school and 67% for those with a university degree. In comparison, the contribution was 55% and 59%, respectively, for those with a high school diploma and those with a not-university postsecondary diploma. The results obtained across levels of education mirrored the results obtained across income quintiles; the contribution of mortgage debt to total debt was larger amongst the bottom two quintiles and the top quintile than among the third and 4th quintiles.

At the regional/provincial level, mortgage debt contributed to a larger portion of the debt increase in the Prairies, namely Saskatchewan (86%), Manitoba (79%) and Alberta (77%). For seniors residing in Ontario and Atlantic Provinces, over one-half of the total increase in debt was due to mortgage debt.

With regard to assets, real estate contributed to more than than one-half of the overall increase in the boilerplate value. The value of employer pension plans contributed an additional 12%. The remainder (36%) was attributable to all other assets (financial investments such as RRSPs and other non-housing items). Real estate contributed to all of the increment in the value of avails for seniors in the bottom income quintile. In comparing, information technology contributed to less than one-half of the increase for seniors in the 5th income quintile.

Amid immigrants, 64% of the increase in the value of avails was driven by existent manor and 6% by the value of pensions. The comparable contributions among the Canadian-born were 47% and 15%.

Lastly, there were regional differences in the contribution of real manor to the increment in the value of assets. In British Columbia, for instance, 2 thirds of the increase in total assets was due to existent estate, equally higher housing prices contributed to increase the value of real estate avails in this province. Conversely, in Atlantic Provinces, each category of avails (real estate, pensions and other avails) contributed almost equally to the increase in the avails of senior families.

Net worth increased faster for senior families at the top of the income distribution

Given increases in both debt and assets, it is worthwhile to examine how wealth, or net worth, changed over the menstruation. Net worth is defined equally the overall value of assets held by the family, minus the overall debt held by that family.

In 2016, the median internet worth of senior families with debt was $537,400, upwardly from $298,900 in 1999 (Tabular array 4). Most categories of families saw pregnant increases in their cyberspace worth but, as was the case with debt and assets, changes in median net worth varied across family characteristics. The largest increases took identify among those in the fourth and fifth income quintiles (increases of $446,000 and $661,700, respectively); immigrants (+$422,200); other family types (+$410,600); homeowners without a mortgage (+$403,800); and families whose major income earner had a university degree (+$341,800).


Table iv
Median internet worth of senior families with debt, 1999 and 2016
Tabular array summary
This table displays the results of Median net worth of senior families with debt 1999, 2016 and Change, calculated using 2016 abiding dollars units of mensurate (appearing as column headers).
1999 2016 Change
2016 constant dollars
Senior families with debt 298,900 537,400 238,500 Note*
Sex of major income earner
Male 380,500 608,500 228,000
Female person 166,300 435,300 269,000
Age of major income earner
65 to 69 374,000 608,500 234,500 Note*
70 to 74 273,700 543,600 269,900 Annotation*
75 to 79 233,300 532,800 299,500 Note*
80 and over 213,300 374,100 160,800
Highest level of education of major income earner
Less than high school 208,600 261,600 53,000
Loftier schoolhouse diploma 305,000 NoteDue east: Utilize with circumspection 418,000 113,000 NoteE: Use with caution
Non-university postsecondary certificate or diploma 337,900 568,600 230,700 Note*
University degree or certificate 739,000 ane,080,800 341,800 Annotation*
Family construction Table iv Note1
Unattached private 157,000 261,600 104,600
Male 226,700 264,200 NoteDue east: Use with caution 37,500 AnnotationEastward: Use with caution
Female 137,100 259,900 122,800
Couple, no children 406,600 730,000 323,400 Note*
Other family types 326,200 736,800 410,600 Note*
Immigrant condition of major income earner
Immigrant 307,800 730,000 422,200 Note*
Canadian-born 298,900 509,800 210,900 Note*
Abode ownership status
Owners with a mortgage 334,100 596,000 261,900 Note*
Owners without a mortgage 414,000 817,800 403,800 Note*
Non-owners 53,100 NoteE: Utilise with caution 66,200 NotationEast: Employ with caution thirteen,100 AnnotationDue east: Use with caution
Labour force status of major income earner
Employee 451,600 NoteE: Apply with caution 577,000 125,400 AnnotationE: Use with circumspection
Self-employed 541,100 NoteE: Use with circumspection 909,500 368,400 NoteE: Use with circumspection
Non in the labour forcefulness 276,400 509,800 233,400 Note*
Family unit income quintile
Bottom quintile 62,900 NoteEast: Use with circumspection 68,900 NoteEast: Employ with circumspection vi,000 NoteE: Utilise with caution
2nd quintile 127,200 278,100 150,900 Note*
Middle quintile 311,000 571,400 260,400 Note*
Fourth quintile 451,600 897,600 446,000 Note*
Top quintile 737,900 ane,399,600 661,700 Note*
Province or region of residence
Atlantic 174,600 351,600 177,000 Notation*
Quebec 249,000 NotationE: Use with caution 354,600 105,600 NotationDue east: Use with circumspection
Ontario 395,300 691,500 296,200 Notation*
Manitoba 254,600 NoteEastward: Use with circumspection 559,200 304,600
Saskatchewan 341,600 NoteE: Utilise with caution 619,800 NotationE: Use with circumspection 278,200 NoteE: Utilise with caution
Alberta 311,000 577,000 266,000 Note*
British Columbia 340,300 733,400 393,100 Notation*

On the other paw, net worth did not increase significantly amid those in the bottom income quintile, non-owners and families in the 2 everyman educational attainment categories. For these groups, net worth did not increment because neither median debt nor median assets increased significantly over the catamenia.

As was the case for nugget and debt levels, there were differences in net worth variations at the regional/provincial level. In British Columbia, median net worth increased by about $400,000 over the period, the largest increase of all provinces/regions. Cyberspace worth increased in other parts of the country too, only not all increases were statistically pregnant.

The debt-to-income ratio more doubled between 1999 and 2016

The debt-to-income and debt-to-asset ratios provide some other perspective on the fiscal land of Canadian families. In fact, the debt-to-income ratio is considered to exist i of the most important indicators of a family unit'due south indebtedness. A relatively loftier debt-to-income ratio implies that a family will spend a higher proportion of its income on repaying debt, leaving less for consumption and saving.

The debt-to-income ratio, even so, does non tell a complete story of the fiscal situation of seniors, in part because income may not represent the all-time approximation of the financial resources available to them. Some other ratio, the debt-to-nugget ratio, measures a family unit'south resilience to financial shocks. Families with a college debt-to-asset ratio have higher leverage and are considered to be in a weaker fiscal position. A debt-to-asset ratio greater than ane ways that a family unit has more debt than avails–a rare occurrence amidst Canadian senior families. Conversely, families with a debt-to-asset ratio closer to zero take very little debt relative to their asset levels.

In this paper, median ratios are used and are obtained by calculating the debt-to-income and debt-to-nugget ratios for each family unit in any given category, and past identifying the median value inside that category. The advantage of this method is that it is more representative of the financial situation of typical families within a category. However, such values cannot be compared with ratios calculated using aggregate values provided by the Organisation of National Accounts (SNA). With the SNA, for whatsoever given category, the overall value of household debt is divided past the overall value of income (for the debt-to-income ratio) or assets (for the debt-to-nugget ratio).


Tabular array 5
Median debt-to-income ratio across family characteristics, senior families with debt, 1999 and 2016
Tabular array summary
This table displays the results of Median debt-to-income ratio beyond family characteristics 1999, 2016, Change, 1999 to 2016, Estimate, 95% conviction interval, From and To, calculated using ratio units of measure (appearing as column headers).
1999 2016 Change, 1999 to 2016
Estimate 95% confidence interval Estimate 95% confidence interval
From To From To
ratio
Senior families with debt 0.239 0.185 0.295 0.522 0.442 0.598 0.283 Annotation*
Sex of major income earner
Male 0.307 0.247 0.373 0.589 0.467 0.713 0.282
Female person 0.179 0.125 0.235 0.473 0.386 0.554 0.294
Age of major income earner
65 to 69 0.321 0.242 0.398 0.705 0.553 0.867 0.384 Note*
lxx to 74 0.234 0.132 0.328 0.474 0.313 0.627 0.240
75 to 79 0.165 0.082 0.238 0.495 0.314 0.666 0.330 Note*
80 and over NoteF: too unreliable to be published -0.037 0.237 0.210 0.053 0.367 NoteF: as well unreliable to be published
Highest level of education of major income earner
Less than high schoolhouse 0.165 0.101 0.219 0.476 0.264 0.696 0.311 Note*
High school diploma 0.453 0.215 0.685 0.457 0.323 0.597 0.004
Non-university postsecondary document or diploma 0.272 0.133 0.407 0.481 0.362 0.598 0.209
Academy degree or certificate 0.443 0.224 0.656 0.717 0.426 1.014 0.274
Family structure Tabular array 5 Note1
Unattached individual 0.139 0.081 0.199 0.416 0.283 0.557 0.277 Notation*
Male 0.231 0.059 0.401 0.378 0.194 0.566 0.147
Female 0.116 0.057 0.183 0.455 0.289 0.611 0.339 Annotation*
Couple, no children 0.303 0.241 0.359 0.581 0.462 0.698 0.278 Note*
Other family types 0.318 0.163 0.477 0.659 0.444 0.876 0.341
Immigrant status of major income earner
Immigrant 0.337 0.164 0.516 0.845 0.772 0.928 0.508 Notation*
Canadian-born 0.209 0.171 0.249 0.473 0.215 0.725 0.264
Home ownership condition
Owners with a mortgage 1.456 1.186 1.734 2.170 1.954 2.386 0.714 Notation*
Owners without a mortgage 0.175 0.141 0.219 0.322 0.261 0.379 0.147 Note*
Non-owners 0.089 0.051 0.129 0.172 0.111 0.229 0.083
Labour force status of major income earner
Employee 0.513 0.236 0.784 0.926 0.616 1.244 0.413
Cocky-employed 1.397 0.459 2.341 1.296 0.751 1.849 -0.101
Not in the labour forcefulness 0.208 0.171 0.249 0.439 0.362 0.518 0.231 Note*
Family income quintile
Lesser quintile 0.179 0.082 0.278 0.434 0.175 0.685 0.255
Second quintile 0.169 0.111 0.229 0.398 0.263 0.537 0.229 Annotation*
Middle quintile 0.234 0.093 0.367 0.471 0.372 0.568 0.237 Note*
4th quintile 0.295 0.182 0.418 0.670 0.494 0.846 0.375 Note*
Top quintile 0.369 0.213 0.527 0.733 0.554 0.906 0.364 Notation*
Province or region of residence
Atlantic 0.192 0.123 0.257 0.354 0.232 0.468 0.162
Quebec 0.179 0.062 0.298 0.383 0.282 0.478 0.204
Ontario 0.209 0.112 0.308 0.548 0.393 0.707 0.339 Notation*
Manitoba 0.198 0.043 0.357 0.477 0.166 0.794 0.279
Saskatchewan 0.295 0.143 0.457 0.536 0.285 0.795 0.241
Alberta 0.407 0.214 0.606 0.872 0.478 1.262 0.465
British Columbia 0.349 0.193 0.507 0.797 0.486 i.114 0.448

Betwixt 1999 and 2016, the median debt-to-income ratio for senior families with debt more than than doubled from 0.24 to 0.52 (Table 5). This means that, for the median family in 2016, debt amounted to 52% of afterwards-revenue enhancement family income, up from 24% in 1999.

While the median debt-to-income ratio increased for about categories of senior families, the increase was relatively higher for families whose major income earner was anile 65 to 69 or 75 to 79. The increase was besides larger for those who did not finish high schoolhouse.

The increase in the ratio varied by family income. While the ratio doubled for families in all income quintiles, the absolute increase was larger for those in the upper income quintiles. For instance, the median ratio increased by virtually 0.36 for families in the top two quintiles compared with an increase of around 0.23 for those in the second and 3rd quintiles.

Other groups with significant increases in their median debt-to-income ratio included unattached individuals (peculiarly unattached females), couples, immigrants, homeowners (especially those with an outstanding mortgage), those not in the labour force, and families residing in Ontario.

More than i-tertiary of families had a debt-to-income ratio over one.0 in 2016

Given that there are important variations amidst senior families in terms of family finances, boosted insights tin can be obtained by examining the distribution of the ratios. In 2016, 49% of senior families with debt had a debt-to-income ratio up to 0.5, significant that the value of their debt did non exceed 50% of their overall later on-taxation family income (Chart 1). On the other paw, 36% of senior families had a debt-to-income ratio over 1.0 in 2016, and 21% of families had a debt-to-income ratio over 2.0. In 1999, these percentages were 21% and 11%, respectively. Such families may be at a higher risk of a financial daze as they take a loftier caste of exposure to debt.

Chart 1 Distribution of families by debt-to-income ratio, senior families with debt, 1999 and 2016

Data table for Chart 1 
Data table for Chart i
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 1 1999 and 2016 (appearing every bit cavalcade headers).
1999 2016
Debt-to-income ratio per centum
Up to 0.5 64.7 49.0
Over 0.5 to i.0 14.8 15.2
Over 1.0 to one.5 vi.iv ix.ii
Over 1.5 to two.0 3.7 six.0
Over two.0 10.5 20.7

Various characteristics are associated with the likelihood that families have a debt-to-income ratio of over 1, or in other words, the probability of having a level of debt that is higher than their income. The probability that families whose major income earner had less than a high school educational activity had a debt-to-income ratio over ane.0 was 43%, and information technology was 40% among those with at least a university degree (Tabular array six). In comparison, those with a loftier school diploma or not-university postsecondary diploma had probabilities of around 30%. Immigrants had a college probability to have a debt-to-income ratio over one.0 than the Canadian-born (44% versus 33%). At the regional/provincial level, senior families in Atlantic Provinces were less likely to have debt levels greater than their income, a outcome reflecting the fact that seniors in Atlantic Provinces take relatively low debt levels.


Table half dozen
Probability of having a debt-to-income ratio over 1.0 and a debt-to-asset ratio over 0.1, senior families with debt, 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Probability of having a debt-to-income ratio over 1.0 and a debt-to-asset ratio over 0.1 Debt-to-income ratio over 1.0 and Debt-to-asset ratio over 0.1, calculated using predicted probability units of mensurate (appearing equally cavalcade headers).
Debt-to-income ratio over ane.0 Debt-to-asset ratio over 0.1
predicted probability
Sex of major income earner
Male person 0.37 0.42
Female (ref.) 0.34 0.36
Age of major income earner
65 to 69 (ref.) 0.41 0.42
seventy to 74 0.36 0.40
75 to 79 0.34 0.38
lxxx and over 0.23 Note* 0.28 Note*
Highest level of instruction of major income earner
Less than loftier schoolhouse (ref.) 0.43 0.51
High school diploma 0.xxx Notation* 0.38 Notation*
Non-university postsecondary certificate or diploma 0.31 Note* 0.36 Note*
Academy degree or certificate 0.forty 0.31 Notation*
Family structure Table 6 Notation1
Unattached individual (ref.) 0.37 0.44
Couple, no children 0.35 0.35 Annotation*
Other family types 0.35 0.twoscore
Immigrant status of major income earner
Immigrant 0.44 Note* 0.49 Note*
Canadian-born (ref.) 0.33 0.36
Labour force status of major income earner
Employee (ref.) 0.45 0.59
Cocky-employed 0.51 0.44 Note*
Non in the labour force 0.32 Annotation* 0.35 Note*
Family income quintile
Lesser quintile (ref.) 0.35 0.58
Second quintile 0.36 0.twoscore Note*
Middle quintile 0.36 0.31 Note*
Fourth quintile 0.38 0.37 Note*
Top quintile 0.35 0.29 Note*
Province or region of residence
Atlantic 0.26 Note* 0.39
Quebec 0.31 0.38
Ontario (ref.) 0.37 0.37
Manitoba 0.33 0.33
Saskatchewan 0.31 0.36
Alberta 0.46 0.49 Note*
British Columbia 0.43 0.41

In improver, 14% of senior families had consumer debt that was higher than their afterward-tax family income in 2016. In comparison, the proportion of such families was 4% in 1999. Consumer debt is debt other than mortgage debt such as outstanding balances on credit cards, lines of credit, loans from banks, vehicle loans and unpaid bills. Meeting fiscal obligations could exist a claiming for these families as a big portion of their income would go towards servicing debt that is non backed by an asset.

Debt-to-asset ratio was relatively stable between 1999 and 2016

In 2016, the median debt-to-asset ratio was 0.06 for Canadian senior families, meaning that the value of debt of a typical senior family amounted to 6% of the value of its assets (Table 7). This was largely unchanged from 0.05 in 1999. Such results suggest that most senior families have relatively low levels of debt relative to their avails.


Table 7
Median debt-to-asset ratio across family unit characteristics, senior families with debt, 1999 and 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Median debt-to-asset ratio beyond family unit characteristics 1999, 2016, Alter, 1999 to 2016, Estimate, 95% conviction interval, From and To, calculated using ratio units of measure (appearing as cavalcade headers).
1999 2016 Change, 1999 to 2016
Estimate 95% confidence interval Judge 95% confidence interval
From To From To
ratio
Senior families with debt 0.047 0.030 0.070 0.063 0.050 0.070 0.016
Sexual activity of major income earner
Male 0.049 0.038 0.062 0.065 0.048 0.072 0.016
Female 0.040 0.022 0.058 0.058 0.044 0.076 0.018
Age of major income earner
65 to 69 0.053 0.038 0.062 0.070 0.054 0.086 0.017
70 to 74 0.056 0.038 0.082 0.063 0.042 0.078 0.007
75 to 79 0.030 0.012 0.048 0.058 0.038 0.082 0.028
eighty and over NoteF: too unreliable to be published -0.007 0.047 0.034 0.003 0.057 NoteF: too unreliable to be published
Highest level of instruction of major income earner
Less than high schoolhouse 0.041 0.022 0.058 0.107 0.077 0.143 0.066 Notation*
Loftier school diploma 0.063 0.025 0.095 0.065 -0.136 0.256 0.002
Non-university postsecondary certificate or diploma 0.044 0.018 0.062 0.052 0.036 0.064 0.008
Academy caste or certificate 0.038 0.018 0.062 0.049 0.034 0.066 0.011
Family structure Tabular array 7 Note1
Unattached individual 0.041 0.018 0.062 0.073 0.046 0.094 0.032
Male person NoteF: likewise unreliable to be published -0.001 0.121 0.091 0.045 0.135 NoteF: also unreliable to be published
Female 0.034 0.010 0.050 0.069 0.045 0.095 0.035
Couple, no children 0.033 0.018 0.042 0.051 0.040 0.060 0.018
Other family unit types 0.060 0.038 0.082 0.073 0.041 0.099 0.013
Immigrant status of major income earner
Immigrant 0.073 0.037 0.103 0.075 0.041 0.099 0.002
Canadian-born 0.039 0.030 0.050 0.056 0.050 0.070 0.017 Notation*
Home ownership status
Owners with a mortgage 0.136 0.113 0.167 0.177 0.158 0.202 0.041
Owners without a mortgage 0.016 0.016 0.024 0.022 0.016 0.024 0.006
Non-owners 0.058 0.033 0.087 0.094 0.041 0.139 0.036
Labour force status of major income earner
Employee 0.084 0.043 0.117 0.134 0.093 0.167 0.050
Self-employed AnnotationF: too unreliable to be published -0.032 0.152 0.069 0.043 0.097 NoteF: too unreliable to exist published
Not in the labour force 0.040 0.028 0.052 0.053 0.040 0.060 0.013
Family income quintile
Bottom quintile 0.125 0.048 0.212 0.172 0.086 0.254 0.047
2nd quintile 0.052 0.023 0.077 0.057 0.036 0.084 0.005
Centre quintile 0.032 0.012 0.048 0.038 0.026 0.054 0.006
Fourth quintile 0.033 0.010 0.050 0.048 0.034 0.066 0.015
Superlative quintile 0.038 0.020 0.060 0.057 0.044 0.076 0.019
Province or region of residence
Atlantic 0.040 0.026 0.054 0.059 0.036 0.084 0.019
Quebec 0.054 0.028 0.072 0.065 0.036 0.084 0.011
Ontario 0.034 0.006 0.054 0.056 0.044 0.076 0.022
Manitoba AnnotationF: also unreliable to be published -0.003 0.103 0.036 0.009 0.071 NoteF: besides unreliable to be published
Saskatchewan 0.034 0.005 0.055 0.056 0.027 0.093 0.022
Alberta 0.052 0.023 0.077 0.089 0.055 0.125 0.037
British Columbia 0.047 0.034 0.066 0.068 0.048 0.092 0.021

The distribution of the debt-to-asset ratio also remained relative stable between 1999 and 2016. In 2016, 61% of senior families had a debt-to-nugget ratio equal to or lower than 0.1, pregnant that these families had debt levels that were equal to or lower that 10% of the value of their assets (Nautical chart 2). On the other hand, xi% of families had a debt-to-asset ratio over 0.iv. The respective proportions in 1999 were 67% and 10%.

Chart 2 Distribution of families by debt-to-asset ratio, senior families with debt, 1999 and 2016

Data tabular array for Nautical chart 2 
Data table for Nautical chart 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 2. The information is grouped by Debt-to-asset ratio (appearing as row headers), 1999 and 2016, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing equally column headers).
Debt-to-asset ratio 1999 2016
pct
Upwardly to 0.1 67.4 60.9
Over 0.one to 0.2 11.three 14.4
Over 0.2 to 0.iii vii.3 8.7
Over 0.iii to 0.4 4.three 4.seven
Over 0.iv nine.8 xi.3

Various characteristics were associated with a relatively high debt-to-asset ratio, every bit shown in Tabular array 6. Higher income levels were associated with a lower probability of having a debt-to-nugget ratio over 0.1. Specifically, the probability that a family in the highest income quintile would have a college debt-to-nugget ratio was 29%, compared with 58% for those in the bottom quintile. Other groups who were more probable to accept the ratio over 0.1 included unattached seniors, immigrants, working seniors, and seniors residing in Alberta. Note

Determination

Due to the crumbling of the population, a growing proportion of Canadians are at present aged 65 or over. A growing number of studies are devoted to this segment of the population. This paper looked at the distribution of debt and assets among senior families and the changes over time. Between 1999 and 2016, the proportion of seniors with debt increased from 27% to 42%. The median debt rose from $nine,000 to $25,000. At the aforementioned time, median assets went up from $327,000 to $607,400. Ii-thirds of the increase in debt was due to mortgage debt and effectually one-half of the increase in avails was related to real estate.

The magnitude of these changes in debt and assets varied across family characteristics. As a result, certain family types saw their net worth increment notably more than others. For instance, between 1999 and 2016, the median net worth for families in the top income quintile increased by $661,700. By contrast, the increase for senior families in the bottom income quintile was non statistically significant.

The debt-to-income and the debt-to-asset ratios provide another perspective on family unit finances. There was little change in the median debt-to-asset ratio over time. Withal, the median debt-to-income ratio increased from 0.24 in 1999 to 0.52 in 2016. The increase in the debt-to-income ratio, all the same, varied across groups, and the increase in debt levels did not have the same implications for all groups of seniors.

Seniors in younger age groups (aged 65 to 69), those in college income quintiles and those living in British Columbia saw significant increases not merely in their debt-to-income ratios, but likewise in their internet worth levels. For these seniors, a rise debt-to-income ratio likely reflects an increased capacity to borrow, for example through lines of credit financed confronting housing collateral.

For other groups of seniors, such as those with lower levels of didactics or unattached individuals, increases in the debt-to-income ratio could be more consequential as their net worth did non increase as much as the internet worth of other groups of seniors. Some of these seniors may be more at risk to have exceedingly high levels of debt relative to income, and therefore may exist more than financially vulnerable. For these seniors, a higher debt level could have consequences such as delayed retirement, lower levels of mental or physical well-existence, and elevated levels of stress. Financial difficulties can too translate into fewer options for seniors if they require care.

Sharanjit Uppal is a senior researcher with Statistics Canada's Insights on Canadian Social club.

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Data sources, methods and definitions

Data source

Information from the 1999 and 2016 Survey of Financial Security (SFS) were used in this study. The SFS is a voluntary survey that collects information from a sample of Canadian families on their assets, debts, employment, income and instruction. Data is collected on the value of all major financial and not-financial assets and on the money owing on mortgages, vehicles, credit cards, educatee loans and other debts.

The SFS covers the population living in the 10 provinces. Excluded from the survey coverage are persons living on reserves and in other Aboriginal settlements in the provinces; official representatives of strange countries living in Canada and their families; members of religious and other communal colonies; members of the Canadian Forces living on military bases or in military camps; and persons living full time in institutions such every bit inmates of penal institutions and chronic care patients living in hospitals and nursing homes.

The analysis in this report is restricted to senior families who had debt. Individual characteristics such as age and education reverberate those of the major income earner of the family.

Definitions

Family unit refers to the economic family, divers as families consisting of two or more people living in the aforementioned dwelling, related past claret, union or adoption, or who are living common police force, and unmarried people who are living either alone or with others to whom they are unrelated.

Total debt pertains to total family debt and includes mortgage debt on the chief residence and all other real estate (Canadian and foreign), and consumer debt.

Mortgage debt refers to debt owed past families on the principal residence and all other existent estate (Canadian and foreign).

Consumer debt includes debt outstanding on credit cards, personal and home equity lines of credit, and secured and unsecured loans from banks and other institutions (including vehicle loans), and other unpaid bills.

Total assets pertain to full family avails and include real manor (master residence and all other existent estate), employer alimony plans (on a termination footing) and all other assets (including RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, vehicles, household possessions, bank accounts, collectibles, accumulated value of family businesses, and other financial and non-financial assets).

Income quintiles are based on the total before-tax economical family income adapted for family unit size (i.e., divided past the square root of the family size).

Debt-to-income ratio is obtained past dividing full family debt by the total after-tax family income.

Debt-to-asset ratio is obtained past dividing total family debt by total family assets.

End of text box

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Income among senior families

Income among senior families increased over time. In 2016, the before-revenue enhancement family income was $43,300, upwardly from $36,200 (2016 dollars) in 1999 (Table 8). Notation Though income increased for almost all groups, there were variations. For example, families in the elevation income quintile saw their income rise by $29,700 (+36%) whereas those in the bottom quintile had an increase of $1,500 (+viii%). This difference led to a widening of the gap betwixt these 2 quintiles from $64,400 in 1999 to $92,600 in 2016. Amid educational groups, families whose major income earner had a high school diploma or less had no alter in income, whereas the income of the 2 groups with higher levels of education increased.



Tabular array eight
Earlier-tax and later on-revenue enhancement income, senior families with and without debt, 1999 and 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Before-taxation and after-tax income Before tax, Later revenue enhancement, 1999 and 2016, calculated using 2016 constant dollars units of measure out (appearing as column headers).
Before tax Later on revenue enhancement
1999 2016 1999 2016
2016 constant dollars
All senior families with and without debt 36,200 43,300 Note* 33,500 40,300 Note*
Sex of major income earner
Male 45,300 55,100 Note* 41,200 49,900 Note*
Female person 24,900 35,100 Notation* 23,200 33,200 Note*
Age of major income earner
65 to 69 42,500 54,700 Note* 37,700 47,600 Note*
70 to 74 39,400 46,100 35,900 41,900 Note*
75 to 79 34,000 43,300 Annotation* 32,400 twoscore,000 Note*
lxxx and over 28,400 35,600 Note* 26,700 34,000 Note*
Highest level of education of major income earner
Less than high school 31,600 31,600 30,400 30,700
High school diploma 39,500 42,200 36,700 39,600
Non-university postsecondary certificate or diploma 38,700 51,100 Note* 35,900 45,600 Note*
University degree or certificate 61,800 74,700 Notation* 51,100 63,700 Notation*
Family unit structure Table viii Annotation1
Unattached individual 22,700 28,000 Annotation* 21,600 26,800 Note*
Male person 26,300 29,200 23,800 27,800
Female 22,100 27,400 Notation* 21,100 26,400 Notation*
Couple, no children 47,100 62,000 Note* 42,700 56,800 Note*
Other family types 52,900 68,200 Note* 49,300 62,400 Note*
Immigrant condition of major income earner
Immigrant 37,900 42,200 35,600 40,600
Canadian-built-in 35,700 43,700 Note* 33,300 40,300 Notation*
Home ownership status
Owners with a mortgage 52,100 58,900 45,500 52,700
Owners without a mortgage 41,800 55,300 Note* 38,000 49,800 Note*
Non-owners 24,500 28,900 Notation* 22,800 28,300 Note*
Labour force status of major income earner
Employee 68,600 79,900 59,300 68,300
Cocky-employed 63,700 69,200 50,900 63,100
Non in the labour force 34,900 twoscore,200 Annotation* 32,600 37,500 Note*
Family income quintile
Bottom quintile 17,700 19,200 Note* 17,700 19,200 Note*
2d quintile 23,800 29,900 Note* 22,700 29,300 Annotation*
Middle quintile 36,700 43,000 Note* 35,600 41,900 Notation*
Fourth quintile 50,700 66,200 Note* 45,500 59,400 Note*
Top quintile 82,100 111,800 Note* 65,600 93,300 Note*
Province or region of residence
Atlantic 30,900 41,300 Annotation* 29,800 39,400 Annotation*
Quebec 33,300 36,700 32,100 34,800
Ontario 41,600 45,900 38,000 43,300 Note*
Manitoba 33,700 48,700 Note* 31,500 43,900 Note*
Saskatchewan 33,500 43,000 Note* 32,100 39,700 Notation*
Alberta 35,100 55,200 Note* 33,900 49,000 Note*
British Columbia 36,400 48,200 Annotation* 32,800 43,200 Note*

At the regional/provincial level, the before-taxation family unit income of senior families in 2016 varied from a low of around $36,700 in Quebec to a loftier of most $55,200 in Alberta. Between 1999 and 2016, families in all provinces or regions, except Quebec and Ontario, saw their incomes grow. The increase was the largest in Alberta (as it increased past $twenty,100 or 57%).

The employment charge per unit among seniors has been on the ascent since the mid-1990s. In 2015, 20% of Canadians anile 65 and over were employed, up from 10% in 1995. Notation As a result, wages and salaries were the major source of family unit income for ane in 10 seniors in 2016 (Chart 3). Regime transfers are still the major source of income for a bulk of seniors, though the proportion reporting them as a major source dropped from 68% in 1999 to 52% in 2016. A growing proportion of seniors reported retirement pensions as their major source of income (32% in 2016 versus 21% in 1999).

Chart 3 Major source of income, senior families with and without debt, 1999 and 2016

Data tabular array for Chart 3 
Data table for Chart 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart iii. The information is grouped by Major source of income (appearing as row headers), 1999 and 2016, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Major source of income 1999 2016
percent
Wages and salaries three.7 9.half dozen
Self-employment income one.iv NoteE: Use with caution 2.2
Regime transfers 68.1 51.half dozen
Investment income v.seven 4.1
Retirement pensions twenty.6 31.seven
Other income 0.5 NoteEast: Use with caution 0.vi NotationE: Use with caution

Terminate of text box

Related information

Supplementary information

  • Table A1: Distribution of senior families by various characteristics, 2016

Related articles

  • Changes in debt and assets of Canadian families, 1999 to 2012
  • Retiring with debt

Information sources

  • Survey of Financial Security

Bibliographic references

  • References
  • How to cite this commodity
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