Prostitution-Related Offences Statistics in Canada
Criminal Code — Sections 286.1–286.5
Prostitution-Related Offences in Canada: the numbers
Police-reported incidents, Statistics Canada table 35-10-0177, 2015 to 2025.
1,200
Incidents reported by police, 2025
2.9
Rate per 100,000 people
+63%
Change in rate since 2015
41%
Incidents cleared by a charge
Rate per 100,000 people, by year
Rate by province and territory, 2025
- 1.Northwest Territories15.2
- 2.Manitoba9.7
- 3.Yukon6.2
- 4.Quebec5.3
- 5.Saskatchewan4.2
- 6.Alberta3.7
- 7.New Brunswick2.9
- 8.Newfoundland and Labrador2.6
- 9.Nunavut2.4
- 10.British Columbia1.9
- 11.Ontario1.0
- 12.Nova Scotia0.8
- 13.Prince Edward Island0.6
Highest rates among metro areas, 2025
- 1.Sherbrooke36.8
- 2.Regina14.1
- 3.Drummondville13.0
- 4.Winnipeg11.8
- 5.Québec8.6
- 6.Chilliwack8.4
- 7.Trois-Rivières8.1
- 8.Moncton6.9
- 9.Edmonton6.7
- 10.Lethbridge5.7
What the law says
Canada's prostitution laws, enacted through the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) in 2014, adopt a "Nordic model" approach that criminalizes the buying of sexual services and those who profit from the sex trade, while generally not criminalizing sex workers themselves. The law treats prostitution as inherently exploitative and aims to reduce demand by targeting buyers, advertisers, and third-party profiteers. Selling sex is not a criminal offence, but communicating to sell sex in certain public places near schools, playgrounds, or daycare centres is prohibited.
Penalties
Classification
Buying (adult), material benefit (adult) and advertising are hybrid offences; procuring and all offences involving persons under 18 are indictable only.
Maximum Penalty
Purchasing sexual services: maximum 5 years (10 years if victim is under 18). Material benefit: maximum 10 years (14 years if victim is under 18). Advertising: maximum 5 years. Procuring: maximum 14 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many prostitution-related offences incidents are reported in Canada?
Police in Canada reported 1,200 incidents in 2025, a rate of 2.9 per 100,000 people (Statistics Canada).
Is prostitution-related offences going up in Canada?
Yes. The police-reported rate rose 63% from 2015 to 2025.
Which province has the highest prostitution-related offences rate?
Northwest Territories had the highest rate in 2025: 15.2 per 100,000 people.
How often does prostitution-related offences lead to charges?
In 2025, 41% of reported incidents were cleared by a charge, and 496 people were charged (490 adults, 6 youth).
Related Offences
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