Percentage of population with 5 or more close friends

What this measures

Dimension: Social support

This indicator represents the percentage of the population who report having 5 or more close friends. A close friend is not a relative, but someone whom a person feels at ease with, that he or she can talk to about personal matters, and who can be called upon for help.

Why this matters

People with a larger number of strong friendships are better able to cope with stress, are more resilient to illness and disease, and report greater satisfaction with life.

Data source

Statistics Canada, General Social Survey (GSS)

Further information: Statistics Canada

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