Youth participation in groups, organizations or associations

Release date: October 29, 2025
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Infographic: Youth participation in groups, organizations or associations
Description: Youth participation in groups, organizations or associations

From 2021 to 2024, 53% of Canadian youth aged 15 to 29 years participated in groups, organizations or associations

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Groups, organizations or associations could be formally organized or informal groups, where people get together regularly to do an activity or talk about things, and include groups active through the Internet.

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The proportion of youth who participated in groups, organizations or associations was highest among 15- to 19-year-olds. This proportion decreased with age.

Table 1 Table summary
The information is grouped by Age group (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Age group Proportion of youth who participated in groups, organizations or associations
15 to 19 years 66%
20 to 24 years 47%
25 to 29 years 42%
Total 53%

The findings were similar by gender, except in the 20-to-24 age group, where a higher percentage of men participated in groups, organizations or associations.

Table 2 Table summary
The information is grouped by Age group (appearing as row headers), Proportion of youth who participated in groups, organizations or associations, calculated using Men and Women units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Age group Proportion of youth who participated in groups, organizations or associations
Men Women
15 to 19 years 65% 67%
20 to 24 years 52% 41%
25 to 29 years 41% 44%
Total 53% 53%

The proportion of youth who participated in groups, organizations or associations varied by region

Table 3 Table summary
The information is grouped by Region (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Region Proportion of youth who participated in groups, organizations or associations
British Columbia 59%
Prairies 53%
Ontario 53%
Quebec 49%
Atlantic 49%

Youth who participated in certain groups, organizations or associations reported a stronger sense of belonging to their local community

Table 4 Table summary
The information is grouped by Type of group, organization or association (appearing as row headers), Proportion of youth who reported a strong sense of belonging to their community, calculated using Participated and Did not participate units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Type of group, organization or association Proportion of youth who reported a strong sense of belonging to their community
Participated Did not participate
Sports or recreational organization
72% 51%
Religious-affiliated group 72% 57%
School group, neighbourhood, civic or community association 75% 56%
Youth organization 78% 57%

Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Social Survey, 2021 to 2024.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2025

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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