Jews targets of 82% of religion hate crimes in Toronto in 2025, Muslims 14%; hate crimes up 40% in 2026
Some 82% of religiously motivated hate crimes in Toronto in 2025 targeted Jews, compared to 14% targeting Muslims, according to annual hate crime statistics released by the Toronto Police Service.
Police said reported hate crimes fell 50% in 2025, with 231 cases compared to 443 in 2024. In 2023, there were 372 reported hate crimes. However, reported hate crimes are up 40% so far in 2026 compared to the same period last year.
In 2025, criminal charges tied to hate crimes dropped 37% from 2024, with 217 charges filed against 73 people arrested. Those arrested in 2025 were more likely to be charged, at 32%, compared to 25% in 2024.
“Despite the overall decrease, hate crimes motivated by religion, race/ethnic or national origin remained the most frequently reported, with the Jewish community the most frequently targeted group of all hate-motivated crimes,” the department said.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to confronting hate in all its forms and making it easier for people to come forward and report incidents of hate,” said police chief Myron Demkiw. He said the department strengthened its Hate Crime Unit and created the Counter-Terrorism Security Unit, which now includes the Hate Crime Unit, to address violent extremism early and prevent harm.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, said Jews make up 3% of Toronto’s population but accounted for 35% of all reported hate crimes in the city.
“A Jewish Torontonian is now 14 times more likely to experience a hate incident than any other resident of Toronto,” CIJA said.
Police also said there were more than 375 protests in 2025 related to the war in the Middle East. During those demonstrations, 84 people were arrested and 186 criminal charges were filed. The Hate Crime Unit was deployed at those and other protests to provide specialized expertise.
