Chapter 2 - Who Are Canada's Young Children?5
... The share of young children as a proportion of the Canadian population is declining
In 2001, there were 2,076,265 children from birth to 5 years of age, representing 6.9% of the total Canadian population.6 This is a decline from 1999, when they represented 7.3% of the Canadian population.
... Most of Canada's young children live in urban centres
In 2002/03, 89.1% of Canada's young children lived in urban centres, a slight increase over the 88.1% who resided in urban centres in 1998/99.
… The majority of young children live with two parents
The number of young children living in two-parent families has increased for three consecutive years. In 1998/99, 85.8% lived in this family type; this figure increased to 86.2% in 2000/01 and 88.2% in 2002/03.
... A growing number of young children have at least one parent who was born outside Canada
In 2002/03, 28.2% of young children had at least one parent who was not born in Canada. This represents an increase from 24% of young children in 1998/99 and 25.9% of young children in 2000/01. In 2002/03, 96.5% of these children lived in urban centres; 3.5% lived in rural settings.
5 Acknowledgement for the development of chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this report is extended to Mary A. Metcalfe of Linguistek Inc. and Adele Furrie.
6 Statistics Canada (2002). Age (122) and Sex (3) for Population for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Federal Electoral Districts (1996 Representation Order) 2001 Census — 100% Data . Ottawa: Statistics Canada (Catalogue No: 95F0300XCB2001003).