Beware: Spooky Statistics Ahead

There was a time when Halloween meant ghost costumes made from old white sheets, a single jack-o-lantern on the front porch and candies dropped one at a time into trick-or-treater pillowcases. Not so today.

Halloween has become something of a ghostly extravaganza, with Canadians spending more per capita on Halloween-related expenses than almost every other nation. The pressure to have an Instagram-worthy Halloween, along with the growing commercialization of almost all holidays, have made Halloween big business in Canada. How big? You won’t believe your eyes.

$28.7 million — the estimated value of pumpkins harvested for Halloween in Canada in 2017

3,924,041 — the estimated number of children in Canada of prime trick-or-treating age in 2017 (those 5 to 14-years-old)

$381 million — amount Canadians spent on Halloween treats in October 2017

$178 — the average that Canadians spent on Halloween candy, décor and costumes in 2015

$169 — the average that Canadian party hosts spent on a Halloween party in 2015

11% — portion of Canadians who dress up their pets for Halloween

$59 — amount Canadians who dress up their pets will spend on a costume for them

53% — portion of people from Alberta who claim they felt pressured into buying the best candy for Halloween

$1 billion — the amount that Canadians spend on Halloween-related expenses

Sources:

Statistics Canada
Retail Council of Canada
Angus Reid poll
Consolidated Credit Counselling Services of Canada