A Statistics Canada report reveals that women in high-income families are significantly more likely to have children than those in lower-income households. Specifically, women in the top 20 percent of family incomes had a 14.1 percent chance of giving birth to their first child in 2023, compared to just 5.6 percent for those in the bottom income bracket. The study highlights growing economic disparities affecting fertility rates and notes that public-sector workers are particularly more likely to have children, regardless of their income level.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
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Statistics Canada released a report indicating that women in the top 20% of family incomes are 14.1% as likely to give birth to their first child compared to just 5.6% for those in the bottom quintile, highlighting growing income disparities affecting parenthood. The study analyzed data from employed women aged 22-39 living with a partner and found that overall family income significantly influences fertility rates more than individual earnings. Marina Adshade, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, noted this trend suggests having children is increasingly becoming a privilege for higher-income individuals. The report also observed similar patterns in other high-income countries, implying economic advantage plays a growing role in determining parenthood.
Written for “Women Having Children By Income” on 2026-09-17,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 10429 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-15
Women in high-income families are increasingly more likely to have children than those in lower-income households, according to a new Statistics Canada report, highlighting trends that experts say are likely to accelerate.
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experts → have → trends
The study, released earlier this week, found that women within the top 20 per cent of family incomes had a 14.1-per-cent likelihood of giving birth to a first child in 2023.
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women → release → 2023
That’s more than double the likelihood for women in the bottom quintile of family wealth, who had a 5.6-per-cent chance.
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who → ’ → chance
The research looked specifically at data on women between the ages of 22 and 39 who were employed and living with a married or common-law partner.
“Having children is now a privilege for people with higher incomes,” said Marina Adshade, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, adding that she expects the trend to continue.
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trend → look → Columbia
Women with higher individual earnings were also slightly more likely to have a child than women with lower incomes, although overall family incomes played a larger role.
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incomes → have → role
As well, women with public-sector jobs had a particularly higher likelihood of having a child.
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women → have → child
In 2017, they were 16.3 per cent more likely than others to have a first birth.
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they → have → birth
The report found that birth rates for public-sector workers were higher regardless of income level, which was notable because differences in other sectors were minimal.
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differences → find → sectors
These trends have grown since 2017, when women in the highest-income families were 2.1 times more likely to have a child than those in the lowest-income families.
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women → grow → families
In 2023, the same group was 2.5 times more likely to have a child.
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group → have → child
“Similar patterns have been observed in other high-income countries, suggesting that economic advantage may be playing an increasing role in who becomes a parent,” the report read.
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report → observe → role
Prof. Adshade, who has written a book on how economics influence relationships, said the Statscan report runs contrary to the popular narrative that the growth of women in the work force has led to declining fertility rates.
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growth → write → rates
On the other hand, she said, it affirms a different narrative, that the expense of raising children is holding back couples from becoming parents.
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expense → say → couples
Housing was among the fastest-growing cost pressures during the study’s timeline from 2017 to 2023, but Prof. Adshade said child care has become one of the biggest factors holding families back.
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care → grow → families
Kelly Ho, a certified financial planner with DLD Financial Group in Vancouver, said the cost of groceries and other household items is also having an impact on families’ finances and their decisions on whether to have children.
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cost → say → children
“No matter the income bracket, everyone is talking about that,” Ms. Ho said.
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Ho → talk → that
Even when her clients do decide to have a child, she said, the discussion around having additional children is heavily affected by the family’s finances.
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discussion → decide → finances
“When deciding whether to have a second child, they really look closely at their cash flow to see if they can make the maternity leave work and whether they can pay for the child care,” Ms. Ho said.
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Ho → decide → care
She said families often worry about the cost of a second child, since it would effectively require them to stretch the same budget even further.
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it → say → budget
Ms. Ho observed that Gen Z clients are extremely financially conscientious and are coming of age under difficult economic circumstances.
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clients → observe → circumstances
She cited this as another reason she thinks the trends highlighted in Statscan’s report could continue.
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trends → cite → report
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