Canadian Girls’ Sport Participation on the Rise but Still Lags Behind Boys, According to New Research

Canadian Women & Sport Unveils 2024 Rally Report: A Call to Redesign Sport So All Girls Can Play

Toronto, ON (November 18, 2024) – While strides continue to be made in advancing girls’ participation in sports, a new report from Canadian Women & Sport reveals that over one million Canadian girls are still missing out on the benefits of sport, with participation levels continuing to trail behind those of boys.

Rally Report: A Call to Reimagine Sport So All Girls Can Play released today, in partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and global insight consultancy IMI Consulting, offers new insights into the experiences of girls aged 6 to 18. Based on a study involving more than 5,000 Canadians – including 2,000 girls and women respondents – Rally Report highlights both the progress and persistent challenges in girls’ participation in sport across Canada along with the need for a system redesign that places girls at the centre.

Overall, Rally Report shows an increase in girls’ sport participation rates, with 63% of girls now playing organized sports weekly, compared to 68% of boys. Despite this, nearly four in ten girls are still missing out on the benefits of sport, a number that rises to five in ten by age 16. Girls from lower-income households of all racial backgrounds are less likely to participate, particularly when they also have a disability.