TORONTO - An organization dedicated to eradicating child poverty has reported a troubling increase in the number of children living in households that struggle to pay bills and access adequate food. According to the 2025 report card from Campaign 2000, there were 30,000 more children in poverty in 2023, based on the most recent national data available.
This increase signifies a rise in the child poverty rate for the third consecutive year, raising concerns among advocates who argue that current efforts to address the issue are ineffective. The report highlights that a staggering 1.4 million children were living in poverty in 2023, with single-parent families being particularly vulnerable according to family income data.
The child poverty rate currently stands at 18.3 percent. The report reveals a stark contrast in poverty rates between family structures: 45 percent of children in lone-parent families lived in poverty, while only 10.1 percent of children in couple families faced similar hardships. The organization emphasizes that children are the demographic most likely to experience poverty in Canada, highlighting an urgent need for policy change.
Furthermore, the report points out that the child poverty rate has increased notably since 2020, when government pandemic assistance temporarily reduced the rate to 13.5 percent based on after-tax family income measures. This suggests a worrying trend, indicating that without sustained support and intervention, child poverty may continue to escalate.
Geographically, the report reveals that Nunavut has the highest child poverty rate in Canada, with nearly 39 percent of children living in poverty. Additionally, provinces like Saskatchewan and Manitoba also report above-average poverty rates, both hovering around 27 percent. These statistics underscore regional disparities within the child poverty landscape across the country.
On the contrary, Yukon boasts the lowest child poverty rate among all provinces and territories, documented at 12 percent. This is attributed to the fact that most Yukoners reside in Whitehorse, where there are higher-than-average incomes and a more stable job market. However, the report notes that individuals living in rural and remote areas of Yukon face disproportionate poverty challenges, particularly among Indigenous Peoples.
The findings of the Campaign 2000 report call for urgent and comprehensive strategies to combat child poverty across Canada. As the data shows a troubling rise, it is evident that current measures are insufficient, and a more robust approach is needed to support the most vulnerable members of society, particularly children living in single-parent households and Indigenous communities.
