Annual ‘Raising Canada’ report also details record-high levels of poverty and mental health issues.
September 2, Calgary, AB – As Canadian students head back to school, the latest annual Raising Canada report reveals a generation at risk. The report, released today, finds that the top 10 threats to childhood are getting worse with shocking rates of bullying, mental health issues and poverty. It also calls for urgent action from policymakers and all Canadians, and highlights youth engagement as key to building effective solutions.
The Raising Canada report, published by Children First Canada (CFC), has tracked the top 10 threats to Canadian children since 2018 with a multi-disciplinary team from the University of Calgary and multiple other Canadian universities. This year’s report comes on Children First Canada’s 10th anniversary, and as Canada drops from 66th to 67th place out of 194 countries on the global Kids Rights Index.
Bullying
- One of the most shocking findings of the report is that an overwhelming majority of young Canadians – 71% of youth between the ages of 12-17 – report experiencing bullying in the past 12 months.
- While 71% of teachers claim that they act to prevent forms of bullying, only 25% of students feel supported by teachers within the school setting.
- One in five teens (25%) report experiencing cyberbullying in the previous year.
- 58% of youth report witnessing racially motivated bullying while at school, while14% report experiencing raced-based bullying themselves.
Other alarming findings
- Almost 1.4 million children were living in poverty by the end of 2024, the highest level since 2017.
- By the age of 25 approximately, 1 in 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with a mental illness, with a majority beginning to experience symptoms before the age of 18.
- Approximately one-third (34%) of the population has experienced some form of childhood maltreatment before the age of 15.
- Online sexual exploitation rose by over 35% between 2022 and 2024.
The top 10 threats, as reported in Raising Canada, are:
1. Unintentional and Preventable Injuries
- Unintentional injuries remain the leading cause of death for children and youth in Canada
2. Poor Mental Health
- About one in five young people aged 12 to 17 report symptoms consistent with a mental disorder, with anxiety, depression, and ADHD being especially common
3. Violence Against Children/Child Abuse
- 1 in 3 Candians (34%) has experienced some form of childhood maltreatment before their 15th birthday.
4. Poverty
- Child poverty increased to 13.4%, the highest level since 2017, affecting nearly 1.4 million children in Canada.
- Between 35,000–40,000 youth face homelessness annually, comprising 20% of the total homeless population.
5. Vaccine-preventable Illnesses
- Measles cases rose sharply in 2025, with over 4,638 cases reported and nearly half affecting children aged 5 to 17.
6. Systemic Racism and Discrimination
- 54% of foster children under the age of 15 were Indigenous, despite Indigenous children comprising only 8% of the overall child population in Canada due to systemic biases and discriminatory practices within the child welfare system.
7. Infant Mortality
- Canada has a national rate of 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023
8. Bullying
- 71% of youth between the ages of 12-17 – report experiencing some form of bullying in the past 12 months.
9. Limited Physical Activity and Play
- Only 39% of children aged 5 to 17 meet the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, falling short of World Health Organization standards.
10. Climate Change
- Climate-related stressors disproportionately affecting children in marginalized communities.
- Air pollution has contributed to spikes in pediatric asthma cases, especially in western provinces.
“As Children First Canada marks its 10th anniversary, the work ahead is as urgent as ever. While progress has been made, today’s challenges demand immediate, collective action. This milestone is both a reflection and a renewed call for every sector of society to ensure children’s rights are realized and every child in Canada is empowered to thrive.” says Sara Austin, Founder and CEO of Children First Canada.
Call to Action
The following Calls to Action, endorsed by Children First Canada’s Youth Advisory Council, Young Canadians’ Parliament, and Council of Champions, provide the framework for addressing the deepening crises children face:
- CFC urges the Government of Canada to create and execute a National Strategy for Children and Youth, including the establishment of an independent Commissioner for Children and Youth.
- CFC urges the federal government invest in children as a nation-building priority, including honouring current budgetary commitments, earmarking a proportionate share of public spending for children, and publishing a Children’s Budget.
- CFC urges all levels of government to invest in child rights education and actively involve children and youth in the decision-making processes that affect their lives. This includes lowering the voting age to 16.
The organization warns, however, that change does not lie solely with government. “Every Canadian, including parents, educators, community leaders, business leaders, and children themselves, must play a role in ensuring a brighter, safer future for our children,” says Austin. “Our children deserve a childhood in which they can flourish, and a future built on opportunity and support. Let’s rise to the challenge and create a future where every child in Canada is protected, empowered, and ready to lead.”
Download the Raising Canada report and infographic
For more information, please contact:
Andrea Chrysanthou, APR
416-797-8194
Children First Canada is a national charity that aspires to create a country where children can grow up free from the barriers that prevent them from achieving their full potential – starting with the protection of their most basic rights to childhood. As a charity that’s uniquely focused on the rights of children in Canada, we conduct research and raise awareness of the issues, equip children and youth as leaders and changemakers, and unite our country around a shared vision and plan to make Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up. ©
Children First Canada gratefully recognizes the generous support of the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and CHEO for making the Raising Canada 2025 report possible.
Additional Quotes
“This year’s Raising Canada Report makes it clear that children and youth are facing unprecedented challenges. SickKids is proud to play a role in addressing these threats and supporting the health and wellbeing of the future generation. We are aligned with Children First Canada in our commitment to elevating the voices of children and youth as we work collaboratively to create a better world for all young people,”
— Dr. Ronald Cohn, President & CEO, The Hospital for Sick Children
“This 8th Raising Canada report not only lays out the challenges but also presents a series of specific, actionable proposals to address those challenges. My thanks to Children First Canada and all that are involved in producing this thorough and detailed assessment of the challenges we face and how to best tackle them.”
— Alex Munter, CEO, Canadian Medical Association
For the past decade, the Raising Canada Report has made one thing clear: children in our country face unacceptable challenges and risks. Children are 100 per cent of our future, and we must act now – not with band-aid solutions, but with bold investments in people, a right-sized pediatric health-care system and innovation through big data and AI. At Holland Bloorview, we believe children and youth with disabilities and developmental differences deserve equitable, timely access to the right services, at the right time, in the right place. We’re proud to be building partnerships with our community to reduce barriers not only to the medical care they need, but to things like music & arts and employment. Let’s continue to work with local, provincial and national partners to achieve the most meaningful and healthy futures for all children and youth.”
– Julia Hanigsberg, President and CEO, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
“Simply the fact that this is the eighth edition of the Raising Canada report is an indication of how much progress is still needed to improve the lives of children in Canada. Over the years this report has been issued, many of the challenges facing children and youth from across the country have remained constant, while new challenges have also emerged. In order to have a better world in the future, it is imperative that children grow up in a healthy way and are truly raised by those around them. As such, with every passing year it is increasingly important to truly address the threats listed in the Raising Canada report. If these threats are not alleviated, we risk creating a generation of people whose lives will forever be affected due to the impact of threats they experienced during childhood.”
— Roman Wolfli, Chair, Youth Advisory Council, Children First Canada (18 years old, Montreal, QC)