SMEs at a glance: Ownership demographics statistics

From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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SMEs at a glance: Ownership demographics statistics
In 2023, 64.9% of SMEs were majority owned by men, versus 17.8% by women
Men owned 64.9%
Women owned 17.8%
Men and women, equally 17.2%
Non-binary 0.4%
Indigenous persons 1.5%
Visible minorities 9.5%
Person(s) with a disability 1.2%
Members of the same family 24.9%
2SLGBTQ+ 1.5%
Highest share of SMEs in goods-producing sectors
Indigenous persons 35.9%
Exported in 2023 31.6%
Members of the same family 31.0%
Highest share of SMEs in services-producing sectors
Women 87.0%
Visible minorities 80.9%
Members of the same family 77.9%
Highest proportions of debt financing requests
2SLGBTQ+ 33.7%
Men 27.4%
Visible minorities 23.8%
Highest approval rates
Visible minorities 93.3%
Men and women, equally 91.6%
Men 91.4%
Lowest approval rates
Person(s) with a disability 63.4%
Non-binary 68.2%
Indigenous persons 85.0%
Highest share of exporters
Person(s) with a disability 22.6%
Non-binary 21.1%
2SLGBTQ+ 19.5%
Lower share of exporters
Indigenous persons 12.7%
Men and women, equally 13.8%
Women 14.5%
Highest proportion of innovators
2SLGBTQ+ 40.5%
Non-binary 38.2%
Person(s) with a disability 35.7%
Lowest proportion of innovators
Indigenous persons 24.5%
Person(s) with a disability 26.4%
Women 26.7%

Source: Statistics Canada, Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises, 2023.

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