Food Banks Canada’s latest HungerCount 2025 report paints a stark picture of rising hunger across the country, with food bank visits reaching record highs.
In March 2025 alone, 2.17 million visits were recorded — the highest number ever and double what was reported just six years ago. Nearly one-third of those visits (712,000) were made by children, an increase of 340,000 since 2019.
Single-person households continue to make up the largest group of food bank users at 42%, while 40% rely on social assistance or disability-related income. The report also highlights that 19% of clients are working, up from 12% in 2019, reflecting a growing number of Canadians who are employed but still facing food insecurity.
Seniors now account for 8.3% of food bank clients, up from 6.8% six years ago, and nearly one in ten receive pension income. In total, food banks served more than 4.5 million meals and snacks in March alone.
Food Banks Canada is urging policymakers to address the root causes of hunger by making life more affordable, improving social assistance rates, and tackling food insecurity in Northern and remote regions.
The organization says hunger in Canada can no longer be seen as a temporary crisis — it has become a persistent national challenge.
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