February 25,2026
RED FM News Desk
An advocacy group dedicated to ending child poverty says more Canadian children are living in families that struggle to afford basic needs such as food and household bills.
According to the 2025 report card from Campaign 2000, an additional 30,000 children fell into poverty in 2023, the most recent year with national data available. The findings show the child poverty rate has increased for the third consecutive year, suggesting current efforts to reverse the trend are falling short.
The report estimates that 1.4 million children were living in poverty in 2023 — a rate of 18.3 per cent based on after-tax family income. Children in single-parent households were found to be especially vulnerable, with 45 per cent living in poverty compared with 10.1 per cent in two-parent families.
Advocates note the rate has risen significantly since 2020, when pandemic-related government supports temporarily lowered child poverty to 13.5 per cent.
The report also highlights regional disparities. Nunavut recorded the highest child poverty rate at nearly 39 per cent, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba were also above the national average at about 27 per cent.
By contrast, Yukon had the lowest rate at 12 per cent, largely attributed to higher incomes and stable employment in Whitehorse. However, the report notes that poverty remains disproportionately high in rural and remote parts of Yukon, particularly among Indigenous communities.
Campaign 2000 says children are now the age group most likely to experience poverty in Canada and is urging stronger policy action to address the growing crisis.
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