Child poverty in Canada has increased for the third consecutive year, with a report highlighting significant setbacks in efforts to reduce poverty among children.
Child poverty in Canada has risen for the third consecutive year in 2025, as reported by the latest Child and Family Poverty Report Card, indicating a troubling trend with nearly 30,000 additional children now living below the poverty line. The report highlights that the country is backtracking on its previous gains in reducing child poverty, approaching levels not seen since 2017. It attributes this reversal largely to insufficient advancements in policies post-2016, particularly following the introduction of the Canada Child Benefit.
The report outlines that the distribution of child poverty is highly uneven, with marginalized groups facing the greatest challenges. Alarmingly, nearly one in five children under the age of six live in poverty, showcasing the urgent need for targeted interventions. The report specifically points out that First Nations families on reserves, along with communities in provinces such as Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, experience the highest poverty rates, underscoring the inequalities present in the Canadian society.
Furthermore, the depth of poverty is deepening for low-income families, as many are falling further below the poverty line. The report warns that if current trends continue, it could take nearly 400 years to completely eradicate child poverty in Canada. This concerning trajectory signals a critical need for renewed policy focus and action to ensure that efforts are effective in lifting families out of poverty and addressing the underlying systemic issues that perpetuate these conditions.
