Child Care Statistics in Canada: What the 2025 Numbers Mean

Statistics Canada's 2025 survey estimates show that 57.7% of children aged 0 to 5 in the covered population used child care, and 32.2% used a daycare centre, preschool or CPE. Among children not using child care, 30.8% were on a waitlist. The last percentage describes a different group.

Reading the denominator—the group counted underneath each percentage—helps keep these figures clear.

The table below uses Statistics Canada's 2025 survey estimates for children aged 0 to 5. The results were released on October 21, 2025. This is a guide to those figures, rather than a prediction of availability at a particular centre or a rule for when your family should apply.

Question	2025 estimate	Who is counted underneath the percentage?	Official table
What share used child care?	57.7%	All children aged 0–5 in the survey population	42-10-0103-01
What share used a daycare centre, preschool or CPE?	32.2%	All children aged 0–5 in the survey population	42-10-0108-01
What share of nonusers were on a waitlist?	30.8%	Children aged 0–5 who were not using child care	42-10-0106-01

What does the participation figure tell us?

The 57.7% estimate describes children using child care within the survey's covered population. It is not a measure of how many parents work, how many spaces are available, or how many babies should attend. The table also separates age groups; an overall figure for ages 0 to 5 does not describe infants alone. See the official participation table.

Is centre-based care the same as all child care?

The 32.2% estimate covers daycare centres, preschools and centres de la petite enfance (CPEs). Its denominator is all children in the age range, rather than only children already using care. Other arrangements appear separately in the official arrangement table. A child can have more than one arrangement, so categories should not be treated as slices of a single pie adding to 100%.

Does the waitlist figure mean 30.8% of all children are waiting?

No. That estimate describes the children who were not using child care. It should not be relabelled as a share of all Canadian children, or all babies. It does not tell a family how long a particular wait will be. The table's denominator includes unknown responses; see the notes and age breakdowns in the official waitlist table.

How precise are these percentages?

They are weighted survey estimates, rather than a count of every child. The 95% confidence intervals in the tables are 56.1%–59.3% for participation, 30.8%–33.6% for centre-based care, and 28.3%–33.4% for the waitlist measure shown here. The intervals describe sampling uncertainty. Comparing a one-decimal estimate with a rounded headline does not create a new trend.

The survey excludes children living on reserve or in institutions. The Statistics Canada release and reader notes explain the survey coverage, weighting and collection. These 2025 estimates are not a live 2026 occupancy report.

What can parents do with national figures?

Use them as background, then ask local providers questions that fit your plans:

• Which age groups can join, and what dates are available?
• How does the application or waitlist process work, and when should you check back?
• Which daily schedule, closure dates and attendance options apply?
• What should you pack, label or keep as a spare set?
• Where can you read the provider's current fees and policies?

Write down each provider's answer and date. Two centres can have different processes even when they sit in the same neighbourhood. A national percentage cannot replace either answer.

For the clothing and spare-item part of planning, read our everyday baby basics for daycare and outings. Ask your provider for its own packing list before buying extra items.

Quick questions

What is the latest reference year used here? The figures in this article refer to 2025 and were released in October 2025. Recheck the linked tables for newer releases before relying on this article as the latest edition.

Can I estimate my local wait time from the 30.8% figure? No. Record the waitlist process and timing supplied by the provider itself.

Does this article give a national child-care fee? No. Fees depend on the source definition and your local arrangement. Check your provider's current written information.

Figures and confidence limits rechecked October 7, 2026. The reference year is 2025; these are survey estimates, not current local availability.