Canadians are the most likely to give up on homeownership than anyone else in the world.
This stark claim comes from a recent report from Habitat for Humanity, which surveyed over 30,000 people across 22 countries, including Argentina, Ireland, and South Korea.
According to the findings, more than half of Canadians who don’t own a home (56 per cent) never expect to own one. That’s more than double the global average of 23 per cent and higher than those who feel the same way in the U.S., U.K. and Australia combined.
“Concerns over future homeownership are highest in developed countries, and nowhere more than Canada,” reads the report.
The survey reveals that housing affordability remains the central barrier for Canadians. Home prices, low incomes and the challenge of saving for a down payment are all working against them.
More than half (54 per cent) of non-homeowners in Canada say homes are too expensive, while 50 per cent say their income is too low and 41 per cent lack sufficient savings for a down payment.
The financial strain goes beyond buying a home, though. Two-thirds (66 per cent) of Canadians made at least one financial sacrifice in the past year just to afford housing costs, including rent.
More than one-third (36 per cent) spent less on food or groceries, while 25 per cent dipped into their savings or emergency funds, and 40 per cent cut back on social activities in order to keep up with monthly payments.
More and more people across Canada are struggling to make ends meet. Food banks across the country rose to a record 2.35 million monthly visits in 2026, which shows just how difficult it is for households to afford the basics.
“Canada’s results reveal a significant gap between housing stability today and confidence in the future. Many Canadians are living with little financial margin for error and are increasingly pessimistic about what lies ahead,” the report states.
That pessimism is strong among younger Canadians. Nearly half (46 per cent) say their housing situation is one of the biggest sources of stress in their lives, compared with just 35 per cent of people in the rest of the world.
And for those who do plan on buying a home, that timeline is getting longer.
According to a separate report from RBC, Canadians who are planning to enter the real estate market don’t expect to buy a home until they’re at least 41. This age is much higher than current homeowners, who purchased their first properties at age 29.
These findings paint a pretty bleak picture of the many Canadians losing hope in what was once considered “the ultimate goal in life.” While some are putting off homeownership until their 40s, others don’t think it will ever happen for them.
That’s certainly a hard pill to swallow.
You can read the full report on Habitat for Humanity’s website.