Family Structure, 1996 - Married Couple Families

According to the results of the 1996 Census, « married couple families » still constitute the large majority of families. Since 1986, the proportion has declined from 80% of all families to 74%, due to substantial increases in both common-law and lone-parent families. In 1996 there were 5.8 million married couple families living in Canada. The highest proportion of married couple families was in Newfoundland at 78% of all families. Quebec had the lowest proportion among the provinces at 64% of all families. All of the provinces and territories observed a decrease in the proportion of married couple families for the period 1986 to 1996.