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Statistics Canada's 2021 Census put the national homeownership rate at 66.5% — down from a peak of 69.0% in 2011 — with wide swings by province, from 75.7% in Newfoundland and Labrador to 59.9% in Quebec.
of Canadian households owned their home at the 2021 Census
— down 2.5 points from 69.0% in 2011, a decline seen in almost every province and territory.
Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population
Atlantic Canada and the Prairies own the most; Quebec remains the clear outlier.
Homeownership rate by province, 2021 Census. Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, compared to the 2011 National Household Survey.
Homeownership fell in almost every province: Canada's national rate dropped to 66.5% in 2021 from 69.0% in 2011 — the only jurisdiction to see a gain was the Northwest Territories (+2.0 points).
Atlantic Canada still owns the most: Newfoundland and Labrador (75.7%) and New Brunswick (73.0%) posted the highest provincial homeownership rates in the country.
Quebec remains the outlier: at 59.9%, Quebec's homeownership rate sits nearly 7 points below the national average, reflecting a larger, more established rental market.
B.C. and Ontario saw the steepest provincial declines: British Columbia fell 3.2 points and Ontario fell 3.1 points between 2011 and 2021, the two largest drops among the provinces, tracking their sharper run-up in home prices.
| Province | 2021 rate | 2011 rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 75.7% | 77.5% | -1.8 pts |
| New Brunswick | 73.0% | 75.7% | -2.7 pts |
| Alberta | 70.9% | 73.6% | -2.7 pts |
| Saskatchewan | 70.7% | 72.6% | -1.9 pts |
| Prince Edward Island | 68.8% | 73.4% | -4.6 pts |
| Ontario | 68.4% | 71.4% | -3.1 pts |
| Manitoba | 67.4% | 70.1% | -2.6 pts |
| British Columbia | 66.8% | 70.0% | -3.2 pts |
| Nova Scotia | 66.8% | 70.8% | -4.0 pts |
| Canada (national) | 66.5% | 69.0% | -2.5 pts |
| Quebec | 59.9% | 61.2% | -1.3 pts |
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population (Catalogue 3901) and 2011 National Household Survey (Catalogue 5178).
of Canadian households rent rather than own, per the 2021 Census
StatCan
British Columbia's homeownership decline, 2011–2021 — the steepest of any province
StatCan
homeownership rate in the Northwest Territories, the only region to rise since 2011
StatCan
homeownership rate in Nunavut, the lowest of any province or territory
StatCan
A falling national homeownership rate isn't bad news for brokers — it means a larger renter pool is a future first-time buyer pipeline, and provinces with steep declines (Ontario, B.C.) are also where broker share is growing fastest. Understanding the provincial baseline helps brokers set realistic growth targets and know where renter-to-owner conversion content will land hardest.
Last updated August 1, 2026. Each figure carries its source; projections are labelled. Page reviewed on every major source release. Information only — not advice.
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