Early findings from the 2020 Internet Use Survey, released by Statistics Canada, show that while the majority of Canadians have adequate internet access, approximately 6% did not have access to the Internet at home. When asked why they did not have access, 63% reported that they had no need or interest in a home internet connection, while 26% reported the cost of internet service as the reason and 13% cited the cost of equipment.
In 2020, over 90% of Canadians in every province had internet access at home. However, internet access and download speeds depend on where you live. Only 88% of Canadians living in rural areas have internet access from home. The majority (80%) of Canadians have a mobile data plan, and yet 1.5% of those respondents do not also have internet access at home. While 81% of Canadians living in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs)* had mobile data plans, this compares to 73% of those living in more rural areas. *CMAs are municipalities with a total population of at least 100,000 and with at least 50,000 people living in the core.
Published By: Statistics Canada
Publication Date: May 31, 2021
Click here to view: Access to the Internet in Canada, 2020
