Canada Housing Market

A new report from Statistics Canada reveals a concerning trend in Canadian social life: face-to-face friendships are declining, particularly among working-age adults.

In 2022, only 19.3% of Canadians reported seeing friends on an average day, compared to 47.9% in 1986. The most dramatic drop occurred among those aged 25 to 64, whose likelihood of seeing a friend fell from 42% to just 14% over the 36-year period.

Meanwhile, the average time spent with friends decreased from five hours in 1986 to 3.8 hours in 2022.

A Nation Feeling the Disconnect

The report also found that over 46% of Canadians felt they didn’t spend enough time with family and friends in 2022, a sharp rise from 34% in 1992.

Among younger Canadians aged 15 to 24, the drop in face-to-face social interaction was also steep- falling more than 30 percentage points. Still, they remain the most likely age group to hang out with friends, with 41% seeing a friend on an average day.

At the same time, a growing number of Canadians say they feel “pressed for time”– almost 25% in 2022 compared to just 15% in the early 1990s.

Experts Point to Economic and Social Pressures

According to Laura Eramian, Associate Professor at Dalhousie University, modern economic conditions play a major role in this shift. She notes that the rising cost of living is forcing many working-age Canadians to juggle multiple jobs or manage both child and elder care- leaving little room for casual, voluntary friendships.

“Friendship is often the most flexible and least obligatory relationship people have, so when time is limited, it tends to be the first thing that gets cut,” says Eramian.

Luca Maria Pesando, Assistant Professor at McGill University, agrees, adding that similar trends are being seen across other high-income nations. He attributes it to long work hours, hustle culture, and the pressure to stay constantly connected via technology.

“We’ve seen a shift toward chronic busyness,” Pesando says. “And with the rise of remote work, especially post-COVID, even spontaneous workplace interactions have declined.”

He also emphasizes the importance of reforms to workplace policies, such as paid leave, flexible scheduling, and vacation time, to help people reclaim time for social connection.

It’s About More Than Just Time Management

While some might assume people just need to prioritize better, Eramian cautions against oversimplifying the issue. She says it’s essential to consider the structural challenges at play.

“Do people have predictable work hours? Are there enough free, public places to gather? Most social spaces cost money- and for people under financial stress, that’s a major barrier.”

Both experts suggest that post-pandemic recovery and policy shifts- like workplace flexibility and investment in public gathering spaces- will be key to reversing the trend.

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Source: Canadians spending less time with friends: StatCan

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