Over 3.2 million people in Canada are living below the poverty line, according to a recent study by Statistics Canada.

The agency used 2018 income tax returns to determine the number of Canadians that are currently not meeting the Market Basket Measure — a metaphorical basket of food, clothes and services representing a modest style of living.

Still, Canada's poverty rate is improving; in 2017, the national poverty rate was 9.5 per cent; a year later, that number has dropped to 8.7 per cent.

Did you know? About 3.2 million Canadians, or 8.7% of the population, lived below Canada’s Official #Poverty Line in 2018—down from 9.5% in 2017. Click here to learn more: https://t.co/KsFmIMkdGA #ReducePoverty @SocDevSoc pic.twitter.com/qxLwN43PPa

— Statistics Canada (@StatCan_eng) February 25, 2020

Since 2015, over one million Canadians have been lifted out of poverty: the largest three-year reduction in Canadian history. Poverty rates have decreased in all 10 provinces, with Nova Scotia experiencing the most improvement.

For Canadian children, the poverty rate is holding steady at 8.2 per cent — still significantly reduced from its spike at 15 per cent in 2012.

Trudeau's liberal government has been keeping a close eye on the poverty rate since 2015, when it introduced its ambitious anti-poverty strategy that seeks to reduce poverty by 50 per cent.

More than 1 million Canadians have been lifted out of poverty since 2015. That’s 334,000 children who don’t have to go to school hungry. That’s 73,000 seniors who can enjoy a more secure retirement. And that’s more people & families who are no longer struggling to make ends meet. https://t.co/kotHY7MC0a

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 24, 2020

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen said, "The results of the 2018 Canadian Income Survey are further proof that our plan is working."

"However, we know there is much more to do. That is why we will keep working hard to reduce poverty and make sure that every Canadian has a real and fair chance to succeed."

Statistics Canada plans to introduce a new formula for calculating the Market Basket Measure, which will increase the poverty rate from 8.2 per cent to 11 per cent in 2018.