The gap between Canada's richest and poorest grew last year as financial markets gained, interest payouts declined and the job market softened, said Statistics Canada on Monday.

The agency says the income gap — measuring the difference in the share of disposable income between households in the top 40 per cent and those in the bottom 40 per cent — reached 46.7 percentage points in 2025.

The result compared with a gap of 46.4 percentage points a year earlier.

The wider gap came as the lowest-income households saw wages rise slower than the overall average and saw their investment income fall because of lower interest payments on savings, the agency said.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada says the top 20 per cent of the wealth distribution accounted for 65.7 per cent of Canada's total net worth at the end of 2025, averaging $3.5 million per household.

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[–] C4551E@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 weeks ago

well yeah, there's been no meaningful change in economic strategy so it's unsurprising that things have continued to get worse

[–] GreyEyedGhost@piefed.ca 6 points 3 weeks ago

This is only a 0.3% difference year-over-year, but still not a good thing. We definitely need that moving in the other direction.

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

To provide a broader view we can look at the World Inequality Index to see how much the top 10% richest people in a state account for roughly the state's' wealth.

Canada: ~60%
USA: 69%
China: 68%
Russia: 76%

The top 10% in larger European countries like Germany, France, UK, Italy, and in countries like Australia and New Zealand, the rate is slightly lower than in Canada, somewhere between 57-60% (Source).

[Edit typo.]

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Which direction are we moving on that index?

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 2 points 3 weeks ago

You can look it up yourself. Canada is more or less stable since 2000 as the 10% wealthiest account for slightly less than 60%. In the European countries the share is also more or less the same as 25 years ago, and at a similar level as Canada.

In China, however, the top 10%'s share rose from 48% to 69%.

[–] 0li0li@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Hey government! Maybe stop measuring and start acting.

[–] Phil_in_here@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What can we do? Tax them? Then they'll leave in droves! Do you want big AI companies to not build data centers overtop of small communities? Do you want our major grocers driven out of business and be replaced by local co-ops? Do you want all the Boston Pizzas to relocate to an island tax shelter? What are we going to have, local restaurants? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT? NO BOSTON PIZZAS?

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

You are brilliant!!! 👍

[–] GodofLies@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 weeks ago

The wealth gap is only going to increase with this current government and their policies. It all points to something really simple - assets are going up in value, while the dollar purchasing power is going down. Anyone without a good amount of assets are going to get squashed over time. This is by design since the introduction of a central banking system with a target of 2% inflation.

The amount of people that lack basic financial literary in Canada is abhorrent - and I can see why those in power want to keep it that way. If financial literacy was taught in high school in grades 11-12, I think things would be a lot different on how people view government policies and media propaganda.

But hey, let's back off on these carbon taxes and fuel excise taxes now - I'm sure the common person is going to benefit soooo much! /s. Meanwhile look at the massive fleets of cars/trucks/vans that these businesses have - they just straight up save 5% for the next 5 months. But oh wait, I'm sure big oil and gas is going to gobble up those savings real fast and quote "uncertainty"... It's all kind of pathetic on every level of government. We know that collective bargaining allows us to gain better prices in the long run, yet we don't "bulk" buy as a country as a whole. Really stupid.