Map of Simcoe Muskoka

Determinants Of Health

Determinants Of Health

Determinants of health are a range of factors that influence the health status of individuals or populations. At every stage of life, health is determined by complex interactions between social and economic factors, the physical environment and individual behaviour. They do not exist in isolation from each other.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified 12 determinants of health as follows:

    1. Income and social status
    2. Employment and working conditions
    3. Education and literacy
    4. Childhood experiences
    5. Physical environments
    6. Social supports and coping skills
    7. Healthy behaviours
    8. Access to health services
    9. Biology and genetic endowment
    10. Gender
    11. Culture
    12. Race/Racism

In this section of our website, you will find the most recently released socio-economic and cultural data for Simcoe Muskoka that will continue to be updated as new data becomes available.

Highlights include: 

  • According to the 2021 Census, 60.4% (or 189,075 people) of Simcoe Muskoka adults aged 25 to 64 years had completed a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, 29.4% (or 91,960) had a high school diploma or equivalent as the highest educational credential earned, and 10.2%, or 32,030 people, reported not having a certificate, diploma or degree.
  • According to 2021 Census data, 308,215 (62.3%) Simcoe Muskoka residents 15 years of age and older were part of the labour force. Of the individuals in the labour force, 11.7% (or 36,180) were unemployed.
  • Of the 87,755 families with children living in Simcoe Muskoka, 27,715 (or 32%) were lone-parent families. A higher percentage of lone-parent families in Simcoe Muskoka were led by women+ (76%) rather than men+ (24%).
  • According to the 2021 Census, 8.3% of Simcoe Muskoka’s population (or 48,785) were considered to be living in low income based on the LIM-AT in 2020. Among lone-parent families, 25.0% or 6,160 were living in low income (after-tax).
  • According to the 2021 Census, 27.6% or 162,830 Simcoe Muskoka residents reported English as at least one of their ethnic origins. This was followed by Scottish (21.5% or 126,845), Irish (21.5% or 126,480), Canadian (17.0% or 100,495), and German (9.3% or 54,650).
  • In 2021, 8,620 (4.0%) of Simcoe Muskoka commuters used active transportation (walking or cycling) and 1.6% (3,505) used public transit to get to work.
  • As of December 31st, 2021, there were 4,664 applicants on a Centralized Waitlist for subsidized housing in Simcoe County. In the District of Muskoka, there were 628 households on the waitlist for rent-geared-to-income housing in 2021.
  • In Simcoe Muskoka, the median after-tax household income in 2020 was $81,000. This is larger than Ontario at $79,500. Women+ had lower median employment income than men+ in 2015 and 2020, both locally and provincially.
  • In the 2021 Census, 4.6% of the population or 27,200 residents in Simcoe Muskoka self-identified as Indigenous. This is a higher proportion than the 2.9% or 406,590 residents of Ontario that self-identified as Indigenous. The self-identified Indigenous population living in Simcoe Muskoka grew by 12.8% from 24,115 in 2016 to 27,200 in 2021. 
  • Unfortunately, year after year, Nutritious Food Basket survey results indicate that many Simcoe Muskoka residents living on low incomes do not have the money to provide a basic healthy diet for themselves and their families.