Brochure - How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your financial well-being? - 2023 Survey of Financial Security

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Measuring the financial health of Canadians

The Survey of Financial Security (SFS) is a national survey that gathers information on the assets and debts of Canadians. Your participation allows Statistics Canada to measure the financial health of Canadians. This information will help governments, economic and social policy analysts, community groups and businesses serve you better.

You can make a difference

Information collected in the SFS is used to improve social and economic programs. By taking part in this survey, you help to ensure that these programs will meet the real needs of Canadians.

You can help us answer these questions

  1. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impact the financial well-being of Canadians?
  2. Are many Canadians unable to manage their debt load?
  3. Do families set aside money for their children's education?
  4. Do people save for retirement?
  5. Will the pension system be able to support Canada's aging population?
  6. What groups of people are most likely to be financially at risk?
  7. How vulnerable are Canadians to major shifts in the financial markets?

Assets of Canadians, 2019

  • 37% - Principal residence
  • 29% - Private pension assets
  • 15% - Other non-financial assets
  • 11% - Financial assets (non-pension)
  • 8% - Business equity

Participating is easy

To access your online questionnaire, please visit www.survey.statcan.gc.ca and enter the secure access code included in your invitation letter.

You and members of your household will be asked a set of questions. You can respond individually, or one household member can answer on behalf of the others. The questions relate to the following financial matters:

  • the value of each type of asset (e.g., your home, other property, vehicles, bank accounts and investments)
  • the amount of each type of debt, including mortgages, credit cards, student loans and other types of loans
  • business equity
  • contributions to employer pension plans.

Tips to help you complete the survey

You can speed up the time it takes to complete the survey online by collecting information ahead of time, such as statements showing the value or amount of assets and debts for all members of your household. Some of the information you will be asked for is available on your 2022 income tax records. You will not be asked to send in any of these documents. Having them handy may help you answer the questions more accurately and more easily.

Please inform other people living in your home that Statistics Canada will combine their responses from this survey with information from their individual tax records. Statistics Canada may also add information collected by other organizations and departments or from other surveys.

Debts of Canadians, 2019

  • 81% - Mortgages
  • 10% - Credit cards and lines of credit
  • 6% - Vehicle loans
  • 2% - Student loans
  • 1% - Other detbs

Your privacy is important to us

Statistics Canada takes the privacy of Canadians very seriously. This survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, which ensures the information you provide will be kept confidential. We do not release any information that could identify you, or any member of your household. For more information on how Statistics Canada is keeping information private, secure and confidential, please visit our Trust Centre.

Contact Us

For more information

Thank you for your participation!

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