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The last time the country saw such a high number of single parents was in the early part of the 20th century, in 1921, when high mortality rates left one-tenth of the population without one of their parents.

In 1941, single-parent families represented 12.2% of the population. Near the height of the Baby Boom generation in 1961, their share of the population was 8.4% — a figure that wasn’t surpassed until 1986.

In 2011, lone-parent families represented 16.3% of all families in Canada, an increase of 0.6 per cent over the past 10 years, but almost double the number in 1961.

Their financial situation, though, is not entirely clear. The census didn’t track their earnings; that data will come out next year with the findings from the National Household Survey.

Studies have suggested that the financial condition for single mothers has improved over time as they age and increase their earning potential.

“That being said, still a lot of them were below the poverty line,” said Celine Le Bourdais, the Canada Research Chair in Social Statistics and Family Change from McGill University.

These children may also have the other parent still in their lives, either through financial support, which helps the lone-parent household, or emotional support to the child, Le Bourdais said.

The census data doesn’t suggest how many of the children live part-time with the other parent.

Le Bourdais said the key for policy planners is to come up with programs that help single parents who have unique economic and social needs, whether they’re single for a few months or few years.