Statistics

This section contains links to Canadian and international statistics, statistical reports, and demographic information related to child welfare.

Provincial & Territorial

Child Welfare Statistics by Province and Terrority

In 2022, there were an estimated 61, 104 children in out-of-home care across Canada (Pollock et al., 2024). The national rate of out-of-home care was 8.24 children per 1000 population. Rate variations by province/territory were substantial and changed over time. The rate of out-of-home care varied by province/territory from 2.72 to 29.60 per 1000 children. 

Because child welfare services fall under the jurisdiction of provincial and territorial authorities each province has different legislation pertaining to child protection interventions, making it difficult to compare rates of children in out-of-home care across provinces. For information on the number of children in care by province or territory please see the statistics section for the specific province/territory of interest: