Canadian bees are far more than insects we instinctively duck, dive, and dodge when they fly past. These largely harmless pollinators play a vital role in sustaining ecosystems and agricultural productivity, and are at the heart of one of Canada's most important industries.
Canadian beekeepers and the colonies they nurture are integral to our agricultural system. Also known as “honeybees,” these insects are responsible for pollinating crops ranging from apples, pears, cucumbers, melons, berries, and many other kinds of produce grown by Canadian farmers. They also make valuable honey and hive products, often seen at your favourite local farmer’s market.
Bees are integral to our ecosystem and life as we know it. As a species, honeybees ensure that our agricultural crop yields thrive by pollinating our crops. Your next meal is likely to have been impacted in one way or another by the hard work of bees in Canada.
We owe so much to honeybees and their role in our agricultural system. So, let's do them the honour. Here are 25 interesting facts about bees in Canada for you to use and share are you please! Also see:
#1 – Canada is home to more than 800 species of native bees, including bumblebees, mason bees, sweat bees, leafcutting bees, mining bees, and squash bees, in addition to the western domesticated honey bee [1]. Interestingly, none of these bees make honey; many do not sting; and they come in a rainbow of colours, with very few sporting yellow and black bands [1].
#2 – In 2025, there were 854,653 honey bee colonies across Canada — up from 843,712 the previous year [2]
#3 – Canada was home to 16,317 beekeepers in 2025, nearly double the roughly 8,615 beekeepers recorded a decade earlier and up from 15,355 in 2024 [2]
#4 – The three Prairie Provinces — Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba — produced 79% of Canada's total honey in 2024 [3]
#5 – Alberta alone housed approximately 315,000 colonies in 2024, making it by far the largest beekeeping province in the country, with Manitoba (114,000) and Ontario (111,263) coming in second and third [3]
#6 – The total annual economic contribution of honey bee pollination through direct additional harvest value at approximately $3.18 billion [3]
#7 – When the estimated economic contribution of honey bee pollination is added to the production of hybrid canola seed, this figure rises to $7 billion annually [3]
#8 – Canada produced 78.2 million pounds of honey in 2024, a decline of 18.3% from the previous year – the largest single-year drop since 2007 [3]
#9 – In 2024, the United States accounted for 68% of Canada's total honey exports, while Japan received 29%, making them the two dominant export markets [3]
#10 – Canadian beekeepers imported approximately 300,000 queen bees in 2024, with the majority (84.1%) sourced from California and Hawaii, followed by Italy (6.0%) and Australia (4.7%) [3]
#11 – The average Canadian consumes approximately 1 kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of honey per person per year [3]
#12 – Canada ranks as the 12th top global honey producer and is a top-20 honey exporter by value [3]
#13 – It is estimated that bees pollinate over one-third of Canada's food crops, meaning their work has touched nearly every plate in the country [4]
#14 – Honey bees visit between 50 to 100 flowers during a single pollination trip before returning to the hive [5]
#15 – During the spring and summer months, a worker honey bee typically lives for only about six weeks, spending the final days of its life foraging [5]
#16 – In early spring, a honey bee colony in Canada may number between 10,000 and 15,000 bees. By midsummer, a healthy colony can swell to 80,000 members [5]
#17 – Honeybees can fly up to 24 kilometres per hour, or 15 miles per hour, and its wings beat 200 times per second, or 12,000 beats per minute [5]
#18 – A normal honeybee colony contains a single queen, who may lay 2,000 eggs a day during her busy season [5]
#19 – Honeybees were first introduced to Canada by European settlers and are not native to North America [6]
#20 – Honey naturally contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries [7]
#21 – The value of pollination provided by honeybees for fruits, crops, vegetables and legumes is almost 20 times the value of honey they produce [5]
It is critical to discuss the importance of bees in Canada to better understand and protect them. As a vital component of our agricultural ecosystem, it is crucial that we are all aware of the need for honeybees of all sorts, even the ones that hurt when they sting!
Canada's agriculture industry is fuelled by bees, and in turn, our hard-working farming families provide our communities with the products they need. The world needs more Canadian agricultural products, and we can thank the bees for doing their fair share to help our farmers grow more food!
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The world needs more Canadian food! pic.twitter.com/JLdNBsec5W
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) February 12, 2026
Q. Are honeybees native to Canada?
Honeybees are not native to Canada or North America; they were brought here by European settlers. Canada is home to more than 800 species of native bees, but none of them are the managed honeybee kept in hives.
Q. What’s the difference between honeybees and native bees?
Honeybees are domesticated, live in managed hives, and produce honey, while most native bees are solitary, nest in the ground or stems, and do not make harvestable honey. Both groups are important pollinators, but native bees often specialize in certain plants and help support broader biodiversity.
Q. Are bees in Canada really disappearing?
While overwinter losses can be high in some years, managed honeybee numbers in Canada have generally been increasing thanks to active management by beekeepers. Regardless, conservation efforts remain crucial.
Q. How can I help support bees where I live?
You can plant a variety of native flowers that bloom from spring through fall, avoid or reduce pesticide use, and leave some “messy” habitat like bare soil or old stems for nesting. Supporting local beekeepers by buying Canadian honey also helps sustain the industry that cares for managed honeybee colonies.
Q. Why are bees so important for Canada’s food supply?
Bees pollinate a wide range of crops, including fruits, berries, vegetables, and oilseeds, boosting yields and quality. It’s estimated that over one-third of Canada’s food crops depend on pollination, making bees essential to our food security and economy.