Toy Industry Statistics in Canada

While the form and function of toys may have changed over time, they continue to entertain, educate, and inspire play. There are toys, such as puzzles and building blocks that help children learn new skills. Other toys, including balls and frisbees, develop coordination and encourage physical activity while others encourage imagination and storytelling.

In this article, we look at the toy industry in Canada through statistics, including manufacturing and sales, popular toy categories, and number of toy stores in Canada. We have also included information about Canadian toy makers and  the toy market trends for 2024. 

Toy Industry Statistics for Canadians

• Canadian toy and games sales generated almost $7.3 billion in retail store sales in 2022.
• The value of sales increased by 1% in 2022 compared to 2021.
• In 2020, toys and games imported to Canada were worth $5.32 billion.
• Most of Canada’s toy and game exports go to the United States.
• There are 1,597 hobby & toy store businesses in Canada in 2023.
• In December 2021 there were ‌85 toy and game manufacturers in Canada.
• Three out of four Canadians still prefer to shop for toys and games in brick-and-mortar stores.
• The fastest-growing toy categories in 2021 were plush toys, outdoor and sports toys, and games and puzzles.
• In 2020, the most popular category for games and toys was the outdoor and sports toys category.
  

Toy industry definition

The toy and games industry includes both manufacturers and sellers of toys. There are other facets to the industry too, which include the design and marketing of toys.

The market includes all types of toys, including activity toys, action figures, baby and infant toys, miniature models, puzzles, games and electronics, ride-on model toys, and toy vehicles.

Canadian toy industry sales figures

Data from Statista reveals that the toy and game sales revenue in Canada amounted to $7.3 billion in 2022. This was a 1% growth from the previous year. The expected annual market growth from 2022 to 2026 is 7.13%. Globally, the most revenue, $99.87bn in 2022, is generated in China.

According to The NPD Group, the sales value of toys and games increased by 9%, which is equivalent to approximately $104 million, from January 2021 to August 2021. Compared to the same period in 2019, the sales value has increased by 21%, which is equivalent to $218 million.

Unit sales are growing, too, after lagging in 2020. In 2021, sales were up by 6% compared to the previous year and 2% when compared to 2019.

Value of toys and games imported to Canada

In 2020, the value of toys and games imported to Canada was $5.32 billion. This was down from 2019 when the value of imports in the toy industry was $5.43 billion. In the ten years since 2011, the highest value of toys and games imported to Canada was in 2018 at $5.78 billion.

Value of toys and games exported from Canada

The majority of Canadian toy and game exports go to the United States. The value of the exports to the United States in 2020 was $587.5 million. The Chinese market was the next largest individual market with a value of $20.8 million followed by Japan with $15.5 million and the United Kingdom with $13.3 million.

Canada’s toy exports have decreased between April 2021 and April 2022, according to the OEC. Their statistics show that Canadian toy and games exports decreased most to Hong Kong by 80%, France by 60%, and the United Kingdom by 49% during and following the pandemic.

How many toy, hobby, and game retailers are there in Canada?

According to Ibis World, there are 1,597 hobby & toy store businesses in Canada in 2023, which represents a decline of 0.4% from 2022. Ontario has the most toy and games stores with around 580 stores in December 2022. In contrast, Yukon only had two toy and games stores in December 2022 according to Statista.

How many toy and game manufacturers are there in Canada?

In December 2021 there were ‌85 toy and game manufacturers in Canada. Most of these are in Ontario and Quebec, where there are 32 manufacturers in each province. In British Columbia, there are eleven toy and game manufacturers, seven in Alberta and three in Nova Scotia. There are no toy manufacturers in the other provinces or territories.

How do Canadians prefer to shop for toys?

During the holiday season of 2021, almost 60% of Canadian consumers planned to shop for toys and games online using a mobile device, computer, or tablet.

However, Canadians still prefer to shop in brick-and-mortar stores for toys and games, with 75% of consumers choosing to shop by visiting an actual store.

More people were shopping for toys and games online during the pandemic. When the lockdowns were lifted, the number of online sales plateaued.

Which toy and game categories are Canadians spending the most money on?

In 2020, Canadians spent more money on outdoor and sports toys compared to the second biggest category of infant, toddler, and preschool toys. The spending in the first category was $440 million compared to $326 million in the second category.

The Retail Tracking Service by the NPD Group, which includes around 85% of the Canadian toy and games retail market, has a detailed breakdown of annual sales data from 2019 to 2020. According to the NPD Group’s data, the total sales were $2150.5 million in 2019 and $2373.6 in 2020, which is equivalent to 10% annual growth.

The other main categories after the two largest categories above include dolls with sales of $322 million and games and puzzles with $289 million in annual sales. Interestingly, the sales from youth electronics were only $46 million.

Which toy and game categories have seen the biggest growth in sales?

The NPD Group sales data shows that the biggest sales growth in 2022 was in the plush toy category. Sales of plush toys increased by 31% in Canada during 2022. Another toy category that saw a big increase in 2022 was action figures and accessories which were up by 20%

After seeing increased sales in 2021, the sales of outdoor and sports toys were down by 5.7% in 2022. Games and puzzles which also saw increased sales in 2021 were down by 5.1% in 2022. 

Canadian toy companies selling Canadian-made toys

Despite the international toy company Toys R Us being one of the largest toy retailers in Canada with 81 stores, many Canadian toy companies are selling Canadian-made toys that continue to do well following the pandemic. Some of these companies include:

• Bloco Toys is based in Outremont, Quebec, and designs and manufactures construction toys.
• Bojeux is a family business founded in 1976 in Anjou, Quebec. Their products include Trendly Art, Ketto, Rustik, and Matchitecture.
• Diabolo Puppets is a small company founded in 1992 and based in Laval, Quebec. The designer and owner of the company has been making puppets since childhood.
• Family Pastimes has been producing games since 1972 from toddlers to adults. Based in Perth, Ontario.
• Monsters Family, is a company based in Edmonton, Alberta, and specialises in plush toys including monster, animal, motorised, and custom plush toys.
• Thorpe Toys was founded in 1975 and has since been making hand-crafted wooden toys in Waterloo, Ontario.
• The Toy Factory has been refocused on making its own wooden toys and games since the beginning of 2020. The company is based in New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island and their selection of toys includes dolls, doll houses, and pretend play toys.
• Toymaker of Lunenburg is a company based in Hatchet Lake, Nova Scotia that focuses on toys and games that support children’s educational development such as brain teasers and games.

Top online stores for toys and games in Canada by revenue

Amazon Canada is the biggest online retailer of toys in Canada with a total revenue of $13,101 million in 2021. The company’s revenue in Canada grew 37.3% from 2020 to 2021. Behind Amazon is Walmart Canada with a revenue of $3,274 million and growth of 19%.

The top five online retailers that saw the biggest growth between 2020 and 2021 was Costco Canada with 44.5% growth. Its revenue was $2,620 million. During the same period, Toys R Us Canada saw their sales go up by 6% and Carter’s Canada by 9.1% while the sales for the two companies were $131 million and $98 million, respectively.

Holiday season shopping 2023

Just over half of toy and game sales in Canada occur from September to December. The most popular toys and games in the 2023 holiday season are expected to include:

• Furby interactive plush toy
• Barbie Dreamhouse 2023
• Fingerlings – interactive baby monkeys that fit the fingers
• Dog-E – a robot dog
• Bitzee interactive pet – a digital, pocket-sized pet

The toy trends for 2024

The toy industry is evolving and responding to cultural, societal, and technological changes. One of the trends for 2024 includes toys for “kidults”, or teens and tweens in other words. This includes games, collectibles, and fidget toys. 

Educational toys became popular during the pandemic and this trend is set to continue in 2024. Toys where children learn through play include not just those that support literary and mathematical development, but also those that teach children about core values such as equity, diversity, and inclusion. 

Studies suggest that around 81% of parents want their children to have at least one toy that has educational value. In addition, approximately 65% of parents consider how the toy will help build a skill set, while 51% will consider how the toy will promote a child’s mental well-being. 

Another trend for 2024 is the shift from large, oversized toys and games to micro-sized collectibles and tiny craft projects. Toys that are based on characters from movies are also expected to increase in popularity following the release of more blockbusters. 

Conclusion

Generating almost $4 billion in retail store sales in 2020, the toy and games industry remains strong despite some stores and companies suffering financial losses because of the pandemic. Amazon and Walmart dominate online sales of toys and games in Canada. However, Costco has seen the biggest growth among the top five online toy retailers in Canada.

Even though the online portion of toy and game sales has increased, especially during the pandemic, most Canadians still prefer to buy toys from brick-and-mortar stores. During and following the pandemic, outdoor and sports toys and games and puzzles experienced the biggest sales growth.