Between the third quarter of 2017 and the end of 2023, the largest share of Canada's refugee applications came from people from Haiti. Among these, 3,376 had been accepted, and 5,664 had been rejected. The remaining countries with the largest share of applications were fairly spread out across the globe, although the majority of applications are believed to have come from those fleeing persecution or seeking asylum.

Many refugee claims in Canada originate from people running away from countries presented as countries of persecution. Between 2017 and the end of 2023, the country from which the largest share of these asylum claims originated was Haiti. In addition, more than 15 percent of them originated from Nigeria.

More than a quarter of new permanent residents arriving in Canada in 2024 were from India - by far the highest of any country. Less than seven percent will be from China, the second highest.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Border Crossing Data provide summary statistics for inbound crossings at the U.S.-Canada and the U.S.-Mexico border at the port level. Data are available for trucks, trains, containers, buses, personal vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians. Border crossing data are collected at ports of entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The data reflect the number of vehicles, containers, passengers or pedestrians entering the United States. CBP does not collect comparable data on outbound crossings. Users seeking data on outbound counts may therefore want to review data from individual bridge operators, border state governments, or the Mexican and Canadian governments.

As of 2019, around 17.5 percent of Canadians had used some illegal drug in their lifetime. The most commonly used illegal drugs are hallucinogens and cocaine/crack.

Who uses illicit drugs?

Drug use in Canada is more common among males than females for every type of illegal drug. Those aged 20 to 24 years are also more likely to have used illegal drugs in their lifetime than other age groups. There are also large regional differences in drug use in Canada. For example, Quebec and British Columbia report the highest percentage of the population who have used cocaine/crack in their lifetime, while Alberta reports the highest use of hallucinogens.

Cannabis in Canada
In October 2018, the Cannabis Act came into effect in Canada, which set a framework for the legal sale, possession, production, and distribution of cannabis. Recreational cannabis has since become a formidable market in Canada, with the leading companies of the industry reporting market values in the millions. Some of the leading reasons for cannabis consumption in Canada according to users include help relaxing or sleeping, reducing stress or anxiety, and to have fun with friends.

In 2006, for the first time in Canadian history, there were more unmarried persons aged 15 years and over than legally married people. Just over one-half of Canada’s population aged 15 years and over (51.5%) was unmarried; that is, they had never been legally married (34.9%), or they were divorced (8.0%), widowed (6.2%) or separated (3.0%). Legally married people formed slightly less than half (47.9%) of the population. Twenty years earlier, 61.4% of the population aged 15 years and over was legally married, while 38.6% were unmarried. Although the proportions of widowed and separated persons have remained relatively stable over the past two decades, increases have occurred largely among the divorced and, even more so, among the single (never legally married) population.

In 2006, for the first time in Canadian history, there were more unmarried persons aged 15 years and over than legally married people. Just over one-half of Canada’s population aged 15 years and over (51.5%) was unmarried; that is, they had never been legally married (34.9%), or they were divorced (8.0%), widowed (6.2%) or separated (3.0%). Legally married people formed slightly less than half (47.9%) of the population. Twenty years earlier, 61.4% of the population aged 15 years and over was legally married, while 38.6% were unmarried. Although the proportions of widowed and separated persons have remained relatively stable over the past two decades, increases have occurred largely among the divorced and, even more so, among the single (never legally married) population.

This statistic shows the total number of drug-related offenses in Canada from 2000 to 2023. There were 45,530 drug-related offenses nationwide in Canada in 2023. Drug-related CrimeDrug-related crime is any crime that has to do with the manufacture, sale, possession, or transportation of a substance illegal under Canada’s criminal code. Drug-related crime is one of the few areas of crime in Canada that has been on the decline over the last few decades. From 2000 to 2023 the rate of drug-related offenses in Canada has decreased. Before 2018, by far, the largest portion of drug-related offenses in Canada was for the possession of cannabis. The number of all offenses related to cannabis was over four times higher than the next illicit substance. Likewise, possession of any substance was also the most common drug-related offense, occurring almost four times as frequently as the next offense. The vast majority of youths who were found guilty of a drug-related offense in criminal courts are sentenced to probation. In contrast, adults were dealt with more strictly, with the distribution of sentences for the guilty being even between, probation, fines, and custody.

In 2006, 49.4% of males and 46.5% of females aged 15 years and over were legally married (and not separated), while 2.7% of the males and 3.2% of the females were separated, but still legally married. The male and female proportions for divorced people were 7.2% and 8.8% respectively. The gender gaps in the widowed and never married categories were larger: 2.5% of males and 9.7% of females were widowed while 38.2% of males, but only 31.8% of females were never legally married. In the case of the never married population 15 years of age and over, the highest proportions occurred in Quebec (46.8% of men and 40.0% of women), and the three territories (Yukon: 46.6% of men and 40.7% of women; Northwest Territories: 54.4% of men and 49.4% of women; and Nunavut: 63.4% of men and 59.2% of women). On the other hand, the sexual divergence of rates between males and females never legally married was highest in Alberta (37.7% of males versus 30.4% for females or a 7.3% difference) and Saskatchewan (36.6% of males versus 29.3% for females or a 7.3% spread). For the widowed population, this disparity was most pronounced for Saskatchewan (2.7% widowers versus 11.6% widows or an almost 9% difference). The map shows by census division the marital status of the population 15 years of age and over by gender.

In 2006, 49.4% of males and 46.5% of females aged 15 years and over were legally married (and not separated), while 2.7% of the males and 3.2% of the females were separated, but still legally married. The male and female proportions for divorced people were 7.2% and 8.8% respectively. The gender gaps in the widowed and never married categories were larger: 2.5% of males and 9.7% of females were widowed while 38.2% of males, but only 31.8% of females were never legally married. In the case of the never married population 15 years of age and over, the highest proportions occurred in Quebec (46.8% of men and 40.0% of women), and the three territories (Yukon: 46.6% of men and 40.7% of women; Northwest Territories: 54.4% of men and 49.4% of women; and Nunavut: 63.4% of men and 59.2% of women). On the other hand, the sexual divergence of rates between males and females never legally married was highest in Alberta (37.7% of males versus 30.4% for females or a 7.3% difference) and Saskatchewan (36.6% of males versus 29.3% for females or a 7.3% spread). For the widowed population, this disparity was most pronounced for Saskatchewan (2.7% widowers versus 11.6% widows or an almost 9% difference). The map shows by census division the marital status of the population 15 years of age and over by gender.

The rate of incidents of drug violations in Canada decreased by 23.5 incidents (-17.15 percent) in 2023 in comparison to the previous year. In 2023, the rate of incidents thereby reached its lowest value in the recent years.

This statistic shows the total number of drug-trafficking, production, or distribution offenses in Canada from 2000 to 2023. There were 20,203 drug trafficking, production, or distribution offenses nationwide in Canada in 2023.

This statistic shows the number of drug related offenses in Canada in 2023, by territory or province. There were 11,314 drug-related offenses in Quebec, Canada in 2023.

This statistic shows the number of drug-related offenses in Canada in 2022, by metropolitan area. There were 5,942 drug-related offenses in the Vancouver area in Canada in 2023.