Human Trafficking Statistics in Canada
Criminal Code — Sections 279.01–279.04
Human Trafficking in Canada: the numbers
Police-reported incidents, Statistics Canada table 35-10-0177, 2015 to 2025.
524
Incidents reported by police, 2025
1.3
Rate per 100,000 people
+88%
Change in rate since 2015
47%
Incidents cleared by a charge
Rate per 100,000 people, by year
Rate by province and territory, 2025
- 1.Nova Scotia3.1
- 2.New Brunswick3.0
- 3.Yukon2.1
- 4.Ontario1.7
- 5.Saskatchewan1.1
- 6.British Columbia1.1
- 7.Manitoba1.1
- 8.Alberta1.0
- 9.Prince Edward Island0.6
- 10.Quebec0.4
- 11.Newfoundland and Labrador0.4
- 12.Northwest Territories0.0
- 13.Nunavut0.0
Highest rates among metro areas, 2025
- 1.Guelph13.7
- 2.Thunder Bay7.6
- 3.Moncton5.9
- 4.Halifax3.1
- 5.Barrie3.0
- 6.Trois-Rivières2.9
- 7.Brantford2.8
- 8.London2.7
- 9.Nanaimo2.3
- 10.St. Catharines-Niagara2.2
What the law says
Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or exercising control, direction, or influence over another person for the purpose of exploiting them. Under Canadian law, exploitation includes causing a person to provide labour or services through conduct that could reasonably be expected to make them fear for their safety or someone else's if they refuse (force, coercion, deception and abuse of trust are relevant factors), or causing organ or tissue removal by such means. Trafficking does not require movement across borders — it can occur entirely within a single Canadian city. Canada treats human trafficking as one of the most serious criminal offences, reflecting its devastating impact on victims.
Penalties
Classification
Straight indictable offence (no summary option). Every trafficking conviction under s. 279.01 or 279.011 carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence.
Maximum Penalty
Maximum life imprisonment (if kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, or death occurs). Otherwise maximum 14 years. Mandatory minimum of 4 years (5 years with kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault or death) for an adult victim; 5 years (6 years with those aggravating factors) if the victim is under 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many human trafficking incidents are reported in Canada?
Police in Canada reported 524 incidents in 2025, a rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people (Statistics Canada).
Is human trafficking going up in Canada?
Yes. The police-reported rate rose 88% from 2015 to 2025.
Which province has the highest human trafficking rate?
Nova Scotia had the highest rate in 2025: 3.1 per 100,000 people.
How often does human trafficking lead to charges?
In 2025, 47% of reported incidents were cleared by a charge, and 234 people were charged (226 adults, 8 youth).
Related Offences
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