TORONTO – Community Foundations of Canada has released its annual report, which offers a snapshot into the quality of life in communities across the country.

Here are some facts and figures from the report which focused on Canada’s youth:

Carrying a crippling debtload:

— Between 1991 and 2007, the cost of a year’s tuition rose by more than 200 per cent in Ontario. In Alberta it was 275 per cent; 174 per cent in British Columbia; 238 per cent in Nova Scotia and 111 per cent in Quebec.

— $78,817: The average total cost of a four-year university degree if not living at home, including tuition for four years, books, housing, food, other expenses and interest.

— $27,747: The average university student debt for a four-year degree at graduation, according to the Canadian University Survey Consortium.

— 14: The average number of years university students will take to pay off debt, according to the consortium.

— $10,889: The average college student debt at graduation based on a two-year diploma, according to the consortium.

— 6: The average number of years college students will take to pay off the debt, according to the consortium.

Unable to find work

— In 2011, about 55,000 youth had been looking for a job for more than six months, representing one per cent of all youth and 14 per cent of unemployed youth.

Still hardest hit by the recession

— Youth employment is still about 250,000 jobs below the pre-recession peak.

— Summer jobs for students in 2012 were at their lowest level since data became available in 1977.

Source: Community Foundations of Canada