Halloween... by the numbers

2018

• Trick or treat!
• Jack-o'-lanterns and squash
• Halloween apples
• Dressed to thrill
• Scary movies
• Mummy couture
• R.I.P.
• Quiet professionals
• Halloween candy
• Devil's night
• Places in Canada that may give you the creeps

Wednesday, October 31 is Halloween!
Here is a selection of statistics related to the spooky occasion.
(Last updated: October 26, 2018)

Trick or treat!

• 3,924,041—The estimated number of children in Canada of prime trick-or-treating age—5 to 14 years old—on July 1, 2017.

Source: Table 17-10-0005-01 Population estimates on July 1st, by age and sex.
See also: Canada's population estimates: Total population, July 1, 2018, The Daily, September 27, 2018.

• 14 million—The number of occupied private dwellings across Canada in 2016 where children might find treats… or cause some mischief!

Source: Population size and growth in Canada: Key results from the 2016 Census, The Daily, Wednesday, February 8, 2017.

Jack-o'-lanterns and squash

A big part of Halloween is the carved pumpkin known as the jack-o'-lantern. Decorating with squash and gourds has also become increasingly popular. Some of these autumn favourites can also be eaten! Pumpkin spice beverage or pumpkin pie, anyone?

• 2,569—The number of farms in Canada with pumpkin patches, according to the 2016 Census of Agriculture.
• 3,476—The number of farms in Canada with squash and zucchini patches, according to the 2016 Census of Agriculture.

Source: Table 32-10-0418-01 Vegetables (excluding greenhouse vegetables).

• 3,299 hectares—The approximate land area on which pumpkins were harvested in Canada in 2017.
• $28.7 million—The estimated farm gate value of these pumpkins in 2017.
• 82,619 metric tonnes—The marketed production of pumpkins in Canada in 2017.
• 3,259 hectares—The approximate land area on which squash and zucchini were harvested in Canada in 2017.
• $42.0 million—The estimated farm gate value of squash and zucchini in 2017.
• 49,407 metric tonnes—The marketed production of squash and zucchini in Canada in 2017.

Source: Table 32-10-0365-01 Area, production and farm gate value of vegetables.

• 1.22 kg—The amount of fresh pumpkin and squash available as food for consumption per capita in Canada in 2017. (Data adjusted for retail, household, cooking and plate loss.)

Source: Table 32-10-0054-01 Food available in Canada.

Halloween apples

In some parts of Canada, "Halloween apples!" is the exclamation used in the little goblins' quest for candy. In some francophone regions, trick-or-treaters must sing a song for their reward!

• 6.9 kg—The amount of fresh apples available as food for consumption per capita in Canada in 2017. (Data adjusted for retail, household, cooking and plate loss.)

Source: Table 32-10-0054-01 Food available in Canada.

• 345,568 metric tonnes—The marketed production of apples grown in Canada in 2017.
• $224.6 million—The estimated farm gate value of apples grown in Canada in 2017.

Source: Table 32-10-0364-01 Estimates, production and farm gate value of fresh and processed fruits (x 1,000).

Dressed to thrill

Dressing up for special occasions and costume parties—a big part of Halloween!

• 158—The total number of businesses engaged in formal wear and costume rental in Canada in June 2017.

Source: Table 33-10-0034-01 Canadian Business Counts, with employees, June 2017 and Table 33-10-0035-01 Canadian Business Counts, without employees, June 2017.

• $3.8 million—The estimated value of "vestments and costumes" (including theatrical and other costumes and ecclesiastical vestments) manufactured in Canada in 2016.

Source: Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade Division.

Scary movies

Halloween is a favourite time to watch films of the horror genre.

• 100.1 million—The number of tickets sold at cinemas in Canada (including indoor theatres, drive-ins and film festivals) for all types of movies in 2016.
• 2,641—The number of screens in use in Canada in 2016.

Source: Table 21-10-0180-01 Motion picture theatres, theatre operations.

• $535.5 million—The value of sales of food and beverages at movie theatres in Canada in 2016.

Source: Table 21-10-0181-01 Motion picture theatres, sales (x 1,000,000).

Mummy couture

• $108.3 million—The estimated value of "surgical and therapeutic supplies…" (including bandages) manufactured in Canada in 2015.

Source: Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade Division.

R.I.P.

• $124.0 million—The estimated value of caskets and coffins manufactured in Canada in 2016.

Source: Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade Division.

Quiet professionals

• 4,755—The number of funeral directors and embalmers in Canada in 2016. Of this number, 2,765 were men and 1,990 were women.

Source: Occupation - National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 (693A), Highest Certificate, Diploma or Degree (15), Labour Force Status (3), Age (13A) and Sex (3) for the Labour Force Aged 15 Years and Over in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census - 25% Sample Data.

• 16,070—The total number of employees in the funeral services industry in Canada in 2017.

Source: Table 14-10-0202-01 Employment by industry, annual.

Halloween candy

Candy—the reward for trick or treating!
(Data are unadjusted.)

• $550.7 million—The value of sales of cookies, confectionery, and snack foods at retail in October 2017. December, however, was the month with the highest monthly sales in 2017, at $651.2 million.

Source: Table 11-10-0235-01 Survey of large retailers, sales by commodities (x 1,000).

• 7%—The percentage of the average daily sugar intake of children that is derived from confectionery items (chocolate bars, candies).
• 8%—The percentage of the average daily sugar intake of adolescents that is derived from confectionery items (chocolate bars, candies).
• 5%—The percentage of the average daily sugar intake of adults that is derived from confectionery items (chocolate bars, candies).

Source: Health Statistics Division.

• 17.4 kg—The amount of refined sugar available as food for consumption per capita in Canada in 2017. (Data adjusted for retail, household, cooking and plate loss.)
• 0.3 kg—The amount of maple sugar available as food for consumption per capita in Canada in 2017. (Data adjusted for retail, household, cooking and plate loss.)
• 0.7 kg—The amount of honey available as food for consumption per capita in Canada in 2017. (Data adjusted for retail, household, cooking and plate loss.)

Source: Table 32-10-0054-01 Food available in Canada.

Devil's night

There is a general decrease in the number of criminal incidents reported to police on October 31, compared with October 24.

• -4.0%—The percentage increase in the number of criminal incidents reported to police during Halloween (October 31, 2017), compared with a week earlier (October 24, 2017).

Note: Data are provided by police services representing 99% of the population of Canada.

Source: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.

Places in Canada that may give you the creeps

Visit these places using the Census Profile and the NHS Profile... if you dare!

Source: Geography Division.
See also: Census Geography.

Happy Halloween!

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