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Toronto (July 22, 2025) – For the second consecutive year, Canada’s Jewish community is the leading target of hate crimes, according to new data released by Statistics Canada.

In 2024, a total of 4,882 hate crime incidents were reported across the country – up slightly from the previous year and nearly twice the number reported in 2020. Despite representing only 1 per cent of Canada’s population, the Jewish community was targeted in 920 incidents, representing 19 per cent of all hate crimes. The Black community followed with 873 reported incidents, and the LGBTQ+ community with 658.

While anti-Jewish hate crimes decreased slightly by 4 per cent from 2023, the numbers remain alarmingly high, reflecting a persistent scourge of antisemitism in Canadian society. The majority of hate-motivated crimes involved mischief, with other common offences including assault and uttering threats.

“These numbers are a sobering confirmation of what Jewish Canadians across the country are experiencing firsthand – that antisemitism is a deeply entrenched and toxic problem in Canada, with dangerous implications,” said Michael Levitt, President and CEO of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC). “It’s simply unacceptable that Jewish Canadians, who make up such a small portion of the population, are so disproportionately targeted. We need all levels of government, law enforcement and civil society to act with urgency and resolve to combat this crisis.”

FSWC continues to advocate for the enactment of stronger hate crime laws, including against the glorification of terror, increased security support for vulnerable communities and robust educational initiatives to counter antisemitism and all forms of hate.

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