- Canadian (and more) Social Statistics -

- Statistiques sociales du Canada (et d'ailleurs) -

Updated May 11, 2008
Page révisée le 11 mai 2008

Population Stats

StatCan Tables by Subject: Population characteristics

March 27, 2008
Canada's population estimates, fourth quarter 2007
As of January 1, 2008, Canada's population was estimated at 33,143,600, up by 52,400 from October 1, 2007. The nation's population increased 0.16%, the strongest fourth quarter growth rate since 1995. While natural growth remained stable, net international migration was up. Canada had a net inflow of 27,700 people, the highest fourth quarter net growth since 1988.

Related link:
Quarterly Demographic Estimates - October to December 2007, Preliminary
Table of contents:
* Highlights * Analysis * Tables * Charts * Data quality, concepts and methodology * Appendices * User information * Related products
* PDF version ( 538K, 97 pages)
[ earlier editions of this report - back to 1996 ]

March 4, 2008
2006 Census: Labour market activities, industry, occupation,
education, language of work, place of work and mode of transportation
Statistics Canada today releases detailed analyses of data from the 2006 Census on labour market activities, industry, occupation, education and language of work.

These analyses are now available in three online documents:
* Canada's Changing Labour Force, 2006 Census
* Educational Portrait of Canada, 2006 Census
* Using Languages at Work in Canada, 2006 Census

Related links:

Statistics Canada Census Page
- links to Census pages for : 2006 - 2001 - 1996
- incl. recent releases :
* March 4, 2008 - Labour, education, language of work and place of work and commuting to work
* January 15, 2008 - Aboriginal peoples
* March 13, 2007 - Population and dwelling counts

* Language
* Immigration and citizenship
* Mobility and migration

Release topics and dates for 2006 Census data
[Click this link to access the datasets below]
* Release no. 1: March 13, 2007 - Population and dwelling counts
* Release no. 2: July 17, 2007 - Age and sex
* Release no. 3: September 12, 2007 - Families and households - Marital status (including common-law status) - Housing and shelter costs (including dwelling characteristics)
* Release no. 4: December 4, 2007 - Languages - Immigration and citizenship - Mobility and migration

SPECIAL NOTE TO NUMBER-CRUNCHERS:
The New Products page contains 100+ links to just-released Census 2006 data (some of the tables is free, and some is for sale. Below, you'll find just a few sample resources:

* Thematic Maps
A thematic map shows the spatial distribution of one or more specific data themes for standard geographic areas. The map may be qualitative in nature (e.g., predominant farm types) or quantitative (e.g., percentage population change).

* GeoSearch 2006
This interactive mapping application makes it easy to find many places in Canada, see them on a map, and get basic geographic and demographic data for those places. Click and zoom in on a map of Canada or search by place name, street name, street intersection or postal code. GeoSearch will display the appropriate map showing boundaries and other features. GeoSearch automatically displays population and dwelling counts for the selected places, and shows what kind of geographic area it is and its relationship to other geographic areas.

2006 Community Profiles, Census year 2006 (update)
These profiles present community-level information from the 2006 Census of Population. Users can search for an area of interest by typing its 'place name' in the box below or by clicking on a province or territory from the list below and selecting the area from a list.

Census Trends, 2006 Census
Census Trends presents a series of summary data trends spanning the 2006, 2001 and 1996 censuses. The product is designed to facilitate the analysis and comparison of the changing demographic and socio-economic composition of selected geographic areas across Canada. Summary data trends include percentage distributions and percentage change.

November 29, 2007
Canada's population by age and sex (as of July 1, 2007)
Canada's population continues to age, but it is still one of the youngest of the world's developed nations, according to new preliminary estimates. As of July 1, 2007, the population's median age was estimated at 39.0 years. In 2002, it was 37.6 years.

September 27, 2007
Canada's population estimates, as of July 1, 2007
Alberta has again led the provinces in population growth, according to preliminary demographic estimates for the year ending June 30, 2007. But indications are that the major component fuelling Alberta's gains—interprovincial migration—has started to ease off.

Related link:
Quarterly Demographic Estimates, April to June 2007

July 17, 2007
2006 Census: Age and sex
Statistics Canada today releases data from the 2006 Census on age and sex. A detailed analysis of how the nation's population age structure is changing is available in the online report Portrait of the Canadian Population in 2006, by Age and Sex, 2006 Census. Data from the census show large-scale changes in the age distribution of Canada's population as a result of population aging. The two main factors behind the population aging are the nation's low fertility rate and increasing life expectancy.
Source:
StatCan Census page

June 28, 2007
Canada's population estimates, First quarter 2007 (preliminary)
Statistics Canada today released population estimates for Canada, the provinces and territories, as of April 1, 2007. During the first quarter, Canada's population increased 0.23%. International migration accounted for two-thirds of the increase. As of April 1, Canada's population was estimated at 32,852,800, up 75,500 from January 1, 2007. Only the four westernmost provinces had growth rates at or above the national average.

Related link:

Quarterly Demographic Estimates, January to March 2007(Preliminary)
1. Notice to readers
2. Highlights
3. Analysis
4. Tables
5. Charts
6. Data quality, concepts and methodology
7. Appendices
8. User information
9. Related products
10. PDF version (424K, 104 pages)

See also:
Related products - links to free StatCan demographic info and vital statistics

May 24, 2007
Your Guide to Data Sources on Census-related Topics, Census year 2006
A new comprehensive guide to data sources on census-related topics for the Census year 2006 is available today. Your Guide to Data sources on Census-related Topics provides a list of alternate data sources that complement the existing information available through the census.
Related link:
Census of Canada - 2006, 2001, 1996

October 26, 2006
Canada's population by age and sex, as of July 1, 2006
Canada's population keeps getting older, as is the case for almost every other developed nation in the world. As of July 1, 2006, the median age of the population reached a record high of 38.8 years, compared to 38.5 a year before and 37.2 in 2001.

Related Link:
Population Projections for Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2005-2031 (PDF file - 1.6MB, 216 pages)
[ HTML version ]
December 2005
This report presents the results of six population projection scenarios by age group and sex up to 2031 for the provinces and territories and up to 2056 for Canada. Using the July 1, 2005 population estimate as the starting point, these projections are based on assumptions that take into account the most recent trends relating to components of population growth, particularly fertility, mortality, immigration, emigration and interprovincial migration.

September 27, 2006
Canada's population, as of July 1, 2006
Net international migration continues to be the main engine of population growth in Canada, accounting for about two-thirds of the annual increase in 2005/2006.

Related Links:

Quarterly Demographic Estimates
Annual Demographic Estimates
NOTE: clicking each of the two links above will open a page that contains a description of the report as well as links to the most current issue/edition.
To see the most recent issue:
Once you've clicked on a link from the two immediately above and the next page is on your screen, click the "View" button, and then (on the next page that opens), left-click the PDF file link to read the file online OR right-click the file to save it to your hard drive. Clicking on "Chronological index" will open a list of all earlier editions of that report.
HINT: the "annual" version is the only edition available, but the quarterly estimates report goes back to 1996, and it's all free...

Report on the Demographic Situation in Canada, 2003 and 2004 (PDF file - 988K, 128 pages)
June 2006
Canadian Statistics: summary tables - links to 50+ demographic tables from the Report on the Demographic Situation in Canada
Source:
Statistics Canada

Also from StatCan:

June 29, 2006
Canada's population, First quarter 2006 (preliminary) Previous release
Canada's population increased at its fastest first quarter rate in four years from January to March, surpassing the 32.5-million mark. Net international migration continued to be the main engine of growth. Population exchanges between Canada and the rest of the world accounted for nearly three-quarters of the estimated growth of 78,200 during the first three months of the year. It was the biggest first quarter increase since 2002, when the nation gained 83,400 people.
Source:
Quarterly Demographic Estimates This publication presents quarterly estimates of population for Canada, provinces and territories as well as statistics on the following components of population change: births, deaths, immigration, emigration, returning emigration, net temporary emigration, net non-permanent residents and interprovincial migration, the latter by origin and destination.
Earlier issues of Quarterly Demographic Estimates - links to issues right back to 1996!

June 29, 2006
Canada's population, First quarter 2006 (preliminary) Previous release
Canada's population increased at its fastest first quarter rate in four years from January to March, surpassing the 32.5-million mark. Net international migration continued to be the main engine of growth. Population exchanges between Canada and the rest of the world accounted for nearly three-quarters of the estimated growth of 78,200 during the first three months of the year. It was the biggest first quarter increase since 2002, when the nation gained 83,400 people.
Source:
Quarterly Demographic Estimates "This publication presents quarterly estimates of population for Canada, provinces and territories as well as statistics on the following components of population change: births, deaths, immigration, emigration, returning emigration, net temporary emigration, net non-permanent residents and interprovincial migration, the latter by origin and destination. "
Earlier issues of Quarterly Demographic Estimates - links to issues right back to 1996!

Socio-economic Conference 2006
May 15 and 16, 2006
Ottawa Congress Centre
"On May 15 and 16, 2006, Statistics Canada will hold its annual two-day socio-economic conference. This event will provide a stimulating and challenging environment for presenters and participants alike, while serving as an annual forum for empirical research focusing on issues of concern in Canadian public policy. The Socioeconomic Conference 2006 will include several plenary sessions featuring invited guest speakers who are leading authorities in their fields. Approximately 50 contributed papers, contributed sessions or posters will be presented, and targets studies discussing:
* Emerging Economic Trends and their Underlying Causes;
* The social Implications of Economic Trends and the Ability of Various Groups to participate in the Economy."
more...

March 10, 2006
Canada at a Glance 2006 (PDF file - 1MB, 27 pages)
(under "The Daily - New products")
"Canada at a glance presents the current Canadian demographic, education, health, justice, housing, income, labour market, economic, travel, financial, and foreign trade statistics. This booklet also includes important international comparisons, so that readers can see how Canada stacks up against its neighbours. Updated yearly, Canada at a glance is a very useful reference for those who want quick access to current Canadian statistics."

September 28, 2005
Demographic statistics, July 1, 2005
Canada had the second highest rate of population growth among the G8 countries between 1994 and 2004, exceeded only by that of the United States. Whereas US growth was primarily due to a high rate of natural increase, the growth of the Canadian population was largely due to its net international migration.
Source:
Statistics Canada

Welfare Statistics

Current/Historical Provincial/Territorial Welfare Statistics:
- see the Key Welfare Links page of this site - it contains links to welfare statistics in each jurisdiction, and these are usually more detailed than the stats that appear below.

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National Welfare Statistics

Social Assistance Statistical Report: 2005
August 2006 (Second edition)
Report prepared by:
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Directors of Income Support

NOTE: Chapter Two of the report is a five-page descriptive overview of social assistance in Canada in 2005. It provides information about the federal contributions to provincial, territorial and municipal social assistance under the Canada Assistance Plan (1996-1996), the Canada Health and Social transfer (1996-2004) and the Canada Social Transfer (2004 to date).
Other chapters provide, for each province and territory, some general information of eligibility (including asset and income exemption levels) and benefits, as well as an impressive number of statistical tables, graphs and charts providing numbers of cases and beneficiaries (time series statistics going back as far as the mid-1990s, depending on the jurisdiction), profile information (age/education/sex of household head, cases by reason for assistance) and even (for most jurisdictions) the percentage of households reporting income.

Complete report
in one PDF file - (921K, 174 pages)

Link to the first edition of this report:
Social Assistance Statistical Report: 2004

Source:
Social Policy
[ Human Resources and Social Development Canada ]

Related reports from Social Policy Directorate of HRSDC:

Social Security Statistics, Canada and Provinces - 1978-79 to 2002-03
- updated June 2005
[ Appendix A - methodological notes ]

Social Assistance in Canada, 1994
Over 40 pages of information on Canadian social assistance programs as they operated in 1994. Much of the information in this document is still as relevant today as it was back then - eligibility, benefits, administrative rules, and more. Includes information about cost-sharing of welfare costs under the Canada Assistance Plan. Question-and-answer format for quick reference. This work was part of a larger study of social assistance in 24 countries released by the OECD early in 1996. I was the author of this report, with a lot of input from a number of colleagues in the Department at the time. If you want a snapshot of what welfare was like in Canada before the Canada Health and Social Transfer in 1996, try this one...

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From the National Council of Welfare:

Profiles of Welfare: Myths and Realities (Spring 1998)
- large statistical collection covering twenty years of data, examining variables like family types, reasons for assistance, age, education, duration of spells on assistance, housing and more.
NOTE: number-crunchers who specialize in welfare statistics can compare this report with the 2004 report above for some interesting observations --- but be careful about data incompatibilities between the two reports...

Number of People on Welfare, March 1995 to March 2005 (PDF file - 133K, 1 page)
NOTE: There may be differences between these welfare dependency statistics and the Social Assistance Statistical Report: 2004 due to data revisions or different reporting periods.
August 2006
Source:
FACT SHEETS from Welfare Incomes 2005

Related Link:

Welfare Incomes 2005 (PDF file - 1.4MB, 116 pages)
August 2006
"Welfare Incomes 2005 estimates total welfare incomes for four types of households in each province and territory, for a total of 52 scenarios. The four household types we use are a single employable person, a single person with a disability, a lone-parent with a 2-year-old child, and a two-parent family with two children aged 10 and 15. The National Council of Welfare has published similar estimates since 1986."

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Social Assistance Use: Trends in incidence, entry and exit rates (PDF file - 97K, 14 pages)
August 2004
by R. Sceviour and R. Finnie
"This paper explores the dynamics of Social Assistance use over this period [1995-2000] to calculate annual incidence and entry and exit rates at both the national and provincial level, broken down by family type. These breakdowns, available for the first time ever, are revealing as policy varied by province and family type and not all provinces shared equally in the recession or the expansion that followed it. The paper does not attempt to apportion the movements in SA participation rates between those related to the economy and changes in the administration of welfare. The focus is on the empirical record of SA entry, exit, and annual participation rates.
Source:
Feature Articles [NOTE: check out dozens of links to past feature articles here!]
Canadian Economic Observer (August 2004 issue)
[ Statistics Canada ]

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Poverty/income statistics

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From the Canadian Council on Social Development:

Stats & Facts
Poverty, welfare and income stats
[Added to the CCSD site April 13, 2006]
Stats & Facts, a new on-line service of the Canadian Council on Social Development, provides accessible and accurate statistical information. This site is intended for anyone with an interest in timely data on social and economic indicators. We anticipate that Stats & Facts will be frequently used by policy analysts, community planners, activists, journalists, and students. Users will find informative facts sheets organized by topic areas covering demographics, families, and education. Plans are underway to add more fact sheets on the labour market, health, and economic security in the coming months. All of these fact sheets will be regularly updated to reflect the most current data available.

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From the National Council of Welfare:

Poverty Profile, 2002 and 2003 (PDF file - 3.5MB, 165 pages)
Summer 2006
"This report shows that in spite of progress made in the fight against poverty among seniors, poverty rates for children and working-age adults are about the same as they were almost a quarter-century ago. The report calls for a national anti-poverty plan for Canada to ensure a successful future for our country. This is the latest report on poverty by the National Council of Welfare. The report examines the incidence, depth and duration of poverty. It also looks at sources of income, the relationship between poverty and paid work, and income inequality."

Press Release:
Report calls for a national effort to defeat poverty (PDF file - 534K, 2 pages)
July 20, 2006
"Canada needs a national anti-poverty plan to ensure a successful future for our country, the National Council of Welfare (NCW) said in a report published today. The report, Poverty Profile, 2002 and 2003, shows that in spite of progress made in the fight against poverty among seniors, poverty rates for children and working-age adults are about the same as they were almost a quarter century ago. Income inequality is growing and many groups of Canadians continue to have unacceptably high poverty rates. For those in need today, however, Canada’s social safety net offers less protection against poverty than ever before."

Related Fact Sheets
# Poverty Facts 2003 PDF
# Women and Poverty PDF
# Depth of Poverty PDF
# Paid Work and Poverty PDF
# Sources of Income PDF

Employment/unemployment statistics

Tables by subject: Employment and unemployment
- 50 tables

Indicators of Well-being in Canada
January 2008
This new HRSDC website presents comprehensive, up-to-date information on the well-being of Canadians and Canadian society, and how that may be changing over time.
- incl. links to info about : Work | Learning | Financial Security | Family Life | Housing | Social Participation | Leisure | Health | Security | Environment

"(...) How many Canadians have a paying job? What levels of education do we have, and how does that compare with other countries? What proportion of marriages end in divorce? How long can we expect to live? Have there been any big changes over the last 20 years or so? This website helps to answer such questions. Developed by Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), its purpose is to systematically present measures and report on various aspects of well-being that are important to Canadians."

Source:
Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

Canadian Health Statistics

Canadian Institute for Health Information
"The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, national, not-for-profit organization working to improve the health of Canadians and the health care system by providing quality, reliable and timely health information. CIHI's mandate was established jointly by federal and provincial/territorial ministers of health to coordinate the development and maintenance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to health information for Canada, and to provide and coordinate the provision of accurate and timely data and information required for establishing sound health policy, effectively managing the Canadian health system, and generating public awareness about factors affecting good health."
See the Sitemap of this enormous site for an overview of its content incl. links to research & reports, the CIHI Data Collection, standards, statistics and client services.

CIHI Health Statistics

Canadian Statistics on
Affordable Housing and Homelessness

Housing Research Tools and Resources
- from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Families, households and housing - from Statistics Canada

Federation of Canadian Municipalities report says
affordable housing still scarce in Canada's cities
OTTAWA, Jan. 16 – Despite increased levels of homeownership, finding an affordable place to live is still a challenge for the most vulnerable in Canada’s big cities.
This was one of the principal findings of the fourth theme report in FCM’s Quality of Life series, Trends & Issues in Affordable Housing &Homelessness, released today in Ottawa. The report, looks at affordable housing and homelessness between 2001 and 2006 in the 22 large and medium-sized municipalities and urban regions that make up the Quality of Life Reporting System.

2008 Quality of Life (QOL) Report:
Trends & Issues in Affordable Housing & Homelessness (PDF file - 3.6MB, 40 pages)
January 2008
[NOTE: this file is S-L-O-W to open (on Jan. 16), likely because many people are trying to download the report at the same time...]
This publication, the fourth theme report published by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as part of the Quality of Life Reporting System (QOLRS), focuses on trends related to housing and homelessness in 22 large and medium-sized municipalities and urban regions in Canada. The report's focus is the period 2000-2006, with some reference to trends dating back to 1991.
Source:
FCM Quality of Life Reports
[ Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)]

Canadian Income Security Statistics

Income Security Statistics - from Social Development Canada
- includes current and historical stats and rates (benefit levels) for Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits.

Crime/Justice Statistics

Pew Report Finds More than One in 100 Adults are Behind Bars
Press Release
February 28, 2008
Washington, DC - For the first time in history more than one in every 100 adults in America are in jail or prison—a fact that significantly impacts state budgets without delivering a clear return on public safety. According to a new report released today by the Pew Center on the States’ Public Safety Performance Project, at the start of 2008, 2,319,258 adults were held in American prisons or jails, or one in every 99.1 men and women.

Complete report:

One in 100: Behind Bars in America 2008 (PDF file - 635K, 37 pages)

Source:
Public Safety Performance Initiative <=== incl. links to related reports and media coverage
[ Pew Center on the States ]
The Pew Charitable Trusts applies the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew's Center on the States identifies and advances state policy solutions.

U.S. Prison Statistics - from the U.S. Department of Justice

Related links:

Canada:
U.S. Tops in the World in Incarceration Rate: Conservatives Hoping to Catch Up
By Brian Gordon
February 4, 2008
The United States has more people in prison, per capita, than any other country in the world. More than China, more than Iran, more than oppressive dictatorships the world over. And this is the model that Stephen Harper and the Conservatives want to follow by implementing 'tougher' drug laws.
Source:
Green Party of Canada

Adult and youth correctional services in Canada : Key indicators, 2005/2006
November 21, 2007
Canada's incarceration rate tends to be higher than most western European countries, yet far lower than that of the United States. For instance, Sweden posted an incarceration rate of 82 and France a rate of 85 per 100,000 population in 2005/2006. By comparison, the incarceration rate in Canada 110 prisoners per 100,000 population, England and Wales was 148, and in the United States the adult rate stood at 738 (the United States excludes youth from its rate).
Source:
Crime and Justice Statistics
[ Statistics Canada ]

International:
World Prison Population List (Seventh Edition) (PDF file - 80K, 6 pages)
January 2007
Source:
King's College, London

Miscellaneous Canadian statistical links

Federation of Canadian Municipalities report says
affordable housing still scarce in Canada's cities
OTTAWA, Jan. 16, 2008
Despite increased levels of homeownership, finding an affordable place to live is still a challenge for the most vulnerable in Canada’s big cities. This was one of the principal findings of the fourth theme report in FCM’s Quality of Life series, Trends & Issues in Affordable Housing &Homelessness, released today in Ottawa. The report looks at affordable housing and homelessness between 2001 and 2006 in the 22 large and medium-sized municipalities and urban regions that make up the Quality of Life Reporting System.

2008 Quality of Life (QOL) Report:
Trends & Issues in Affordable Housing & Homelessness (PDF file - 3.6MB, 40 pages)
January 2008
[NOTE: this file is S-L-O-W to open (on Jan. 16), likely because many people are trying to download the report at the same time...]
This publication, the fourth theme report published by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as part of the Quality of Life Reporting System (QOLRS), focuses on trends related to housing and homelessness in 22 large and medium-sized municipalities and urban regions in Canada. The report's focus is the period 2000-2006, with some reference to trends dating back to 1991.
Source:
FCM Quality of Life Reports
[ Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)]

Research Resources for the Social Sciences (Craig McKie) - MEGASITE!
- Craig McKie's Links to Demographic Sites

Economic Indicators - Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Finance Department)

Lars Osberg
Professor of Economics, Dalhousie University

Working Papers - dozens of papers back to 1993

CV/Publications by Lars Osberg - 175+ links articles, book chapters, etc.

Purchasing power parities 1992 to 2001
June 28, 2002
"Interest remains high in the value of the Canadian dollar compared with its US counterpart and in the comparative levels of output between the two countries. Released today are updated results for bilateral US-Canada purchasing power parities (PPPs) and real expenditures covering the years 1992 to 2001."
Purchasing Power Parities and Real Expenditures, United States and Canada 1992-2001(PDF file - 743K, 48 pages)
Source : The Daily, Statistics Canada

Related Link :

Purchasing power parity: A Canada/US exploration
May 30, 2002
"Are Canadians paying more than Americans for the goods and services they purchase?
How have Canada-US free trade agreements affected the purchasing power of Canadian consumers relative to their American counterparts?"
- cross-country comparison of living standards based on a study that explores relative prices, adjusted by the exchange rate, on more than 168 commodities over four years (1985, 1990, 1993, 1996)
Abstract
Complete report (PDF file - 278K, 46 pages)
Source : The Daily, Statistics Canada

American Statistical Links

What are good sources of information on basic trends in poverty, welfare and related issues in America?
Source:
Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)
[University of Wisconsin-Madison ]

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FedStats - The gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. Federal agencies

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Demography/Population Statistics - links to over 50 websites that offer American and international population and demographic statistics
Source:
Librarians' Index to the Internet

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The US Social Statistics Briefing Room
- incl. Crime Statistics - Demographic Statistics [incl. population, income, poverty] - Education Statistics - Health Statistics

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From the U.S. Census Bureau:

Census Bureau Poverty Page
- includes links to : * Poverty Home * Overview *What's new * Publications * Definitions * Poverty Thresholds * Poverty Data Sources * Current Poverty Data * Microdata Access * Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates * History of the Poverty Measure * Poverty Measurement Studies and Alternative Measures * Related Sites * FAQ

Links to Related Sites
Find other agencies or organizations which provide Poverty Measurement Research

Census Bureau Income Page - incl. links to : * What's New * Income Main * Overview * Reports * Definitions * Guidance about the Sources * How Income Data is Collected * Micro Data Access * Related Topics * FAQ * Current and historical income data

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Statistical Resources on the Web - from the University of Michigan Documents Center
Includes links to a wide range of statistical sites, mainly American but with some international content.
- includes : Agriculture - Foreign Governments - Statistical Agencies - Foreign Trade - U.S. Imports and Exports - Comprehensive Subjects Directories - Health - Cost of Living - Price Indexes and Comparative Costs - Housing - Homelessness - Demographics (Population, Social, Economic Characteristics, Poverty) - Labor (Labor Force, Occupations, Salaries) - Economics - Military - Education - Politics - Science - Environment - Sociology (Children, Crime, Elderly, Immigration, Refugees) - Finance and Currency - Transportation - Foreign Economics - International Sources - and more...

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Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance
Coverage in the United States: 2006

From the U.S. Census Bureau:

Household Income Rises, Poverty Rate Declines,
Number of Uninsured Up
Press Release
August 28, 2007
- includes a detailed backgrounder
Real median household income in the United States climbed between 2005 and 2006, reaching $48,200, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the second consecutive year that income has risen. Meanwhile, the nation’s official poverty rate declined for the first time this decade, from 12.6 percent in 2005 to 12.3 percent in 2006. There were 36.5 million people in poverty in 2006, not statistically different from 2005.

The number of people without health insurance coverage rose
from 44.8 million (15.3 percent) in 2005 to 47 million (15.8 percent) in 2006.

These findings are contained in the Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006 report [PDF file - 3MB, 78 pages]. The data were compiled from information collected in the 2007 Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC).

Also released today were income, poverty and earnings data from the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS) for states and metropolitan areas, counties, cities and American Indian/Alaska Native areas of 65,000 population or more and all congressional districts. (This year marks the first time that the population in group quarters --- such as prisons, college dorms, military barracks and nursing homes --- is included, so the 2006 estimates are not fully comparable to the 2005 estimates.)

Income, Earnings and Poverty in the United States: 2006 [PDF file - 1.5MB, 40 pages)]
Data tablesç
Income data
Poverty data
Health Insurance data
Source:
American Community Survey (ACS)
The American Community Survey is a nationwide survey designed to provide communities a fresh look at how they are changing.

Global Distribution of Poverty
For policymakers and academics alike, having access to information about the global distribution of poverty is crucial. Based at the Earth Institute at Columbia University, The Poverty Mapping Project at The Center for International Earth Science Information Network is a very fine resource for anyone interested in this subject. Understandably, the site provides access to dozens of maps which document the geographic and biophysical conditions of where the poor live. In the "Maps" section, visitors can look over 300 poverty maps offered at a number of spatial scales. Visitors will also want to peruse their nice publication, "Where the Poor Are: An Atlas of Poverty", which includes information about how some of this data has been used in poverty interventions. Persons looking for data for their own research will want to consider downloading the subnational and national poverty data sets that are made available here. Overall, it's a well-designed site and one which can be used in a variety of settings.
Reviewed by:
The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2008

Global Social Change Reports
Excellent resources - well worth a visit for anyone interested in major world demographic, social, political and communication trends over the last several decades.

- includes the following resources (among many others):
--- Basic Guide to the World: Quality of Life Throughout the World (PDF file - 228K, 34 pages) - December 2005
This describes world and regional trends in infant mortality rate, gdp per capita, literacy, freedom, and world and regional life satisfaction. An html version http://gsociology.icaap.org/report/cqual.html is a brief review of global quality of life, major trends and regional comparisons.
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