Earnings and Incomes of Canadians Over the Past Quarter Century, 2006 Census: Incomes of families

More economic families, moderate increase in income

In 2006, there were 8.8 million economic families consisting of two or more people, up 6.2% from 2001. Between 2000 and 2005, the median income of these economic families increased 3.7%, to $66,343. In 1980, the median income was $59,709.

Between 1980 and 2000, the median income of these families increased by 7.2%, with annual increases averaging just 0.3% a year, compared with 0.7% during the past five years. The recent acceleration left median family income 11.1% higher in 2005 than in 1980.