Research on the Wellbeing of Solo Retirees

Solo retirees include people who have never partnered, separated, divorced, widowed, or living apart from a partner

In Canada, people typically retire between their mid-50s and late 70s, with most retiring around 65 years old. Some people prepare for retirement years before retiring, while others leave it until the last minute.

As of July 1, 2023, approximately 7.6 million Canadians were aged 65 and older, accounting for nearly one-fifth (18.9%) of the total population. According to the 2021 Census, nearly 40 percent of people aged 65 and above are single, and almost 70 percent live alone. That is about 2 million people in Canada. Half of 2SLGBTQ+ adults aged 65 and older were living alone.

Despite the high number of solo retirees, little is known about their wellbeing, quality of life, and lived experiences. This project will capture the voices of solo retirees and create products to inform and support decision-making, policy development, and service enhancement, potentially improving advisory services and financial products.

Project Impact

The evidence from the study on the wellbeing and quality of life of solo retirees will inform the following:

● Retirement planning initiatives: evidence-based, insightful, and informative

● Public Policies: inclusive and responsive

● Seniors and retirement programs: more respectful and welcoming

● Future research: inspired by diversity and alignment with wellbeing

● Quality of life in retirement for solo retirees: optimized, enhanced, and improved

Estimated Timeline: Approximately 6-8 months (Fall 2025 to Spring 2026)

Program Participants:

Any solo retiree from all province, urban, suburban, exurban, rural, and more remote.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please visit our study . Participants will be asked to complete a survey.

For more information, please visit our website.