Canadian household wealth reached a collective record of $18.59 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2025, propelled by robust financial markets, according to Statistics Canada. The average net worth per household climbed 5.3% over the year to approximately $1.08 million, marking two consecutive years of quarterly gains. However, economists caution that future growth hinges on sustained stock market strength as the housing market continues to cool.
Wealth Growth Trends
Since the end of 2023, when average household wealth stood at $967,599, net worth has risen steadily. Over the past five years, including the COVID-19 pandemic period, average household wealth has surged by 23%. Yet, the gains have not been evenly distributed. James Gauthier, a senior economic analyst at Statistics Canada, noted that the wealth gap between the richest and poorest households widened significantly in 2025.
Top Quintile Gains
Households in the top 20% wealth bracket saw the largest net worth increase, rising 6% to an average of $3.5 million per household by year-end. This group now holds nearly two-thirds of total Canadian wealth.
Bottom Quintile Struggles
In contrast, households in the bottom 40% accounted for only 3% of total net worth, with an average of $81,650 per household. Gauthier emphasized that average figures can be skewed by extremes; the middle 20% (third quintile) offers a more representative view. These households saw a 3.2% net worth increase, reaching an average of $526,185.
Financial Assets vs. Real Estate
Rachel Battaglia, an economist at RBC, noted that 2025 continued a shift that began in 2023: wealth gains are now driven by financial assets rather than real estate. The housing market peaked in 2022, and declining home values in many areas have acted as a drag on aggregate net worth. Moving forward, the performance of stocks and other financial assets will be critical to sustaining household wealth growth.
