Canada’s Non-Permanent Residents: A Quick Overview of Stats

Canada is home to a substantial number of non-permanent residents (NPRs), constituting a significant and diverse subset of the population. The data gathered from the 2021 Census paints an interesting picture of the over 924,000 NPRs in Canada, who make up 2.5% of the country's population.

These NPRs are categorized based on their resident type, age group, country of birth, type of dwelling, and level of qualification.

This table shows the distribution of the population, by age group, among non-permanent residents in Canada compared to the rest of the population. As you can see, there's a significantly higher proportion of non-permanent residents in the 20 to 34 years age group compared to the rest of the population.

Top Country of Birth
This table shows the top 10 countries of birth for non-permanent residents in Canada, along with the percentage of the total non-permanent resident population that each country represents. he highest proportion, at 28.5%, hails from India, followed by China at 10.5%. France, Philippines, and Mexico represent 5.1%, 3.6%, and 3.5% of the NPR population respectively. The rest of the top ten countries of birth for NPRs include Nigeria, Iran, South Korea, Brazil, and the United States of America, each contributing less than 4% to the total NPR population.

1. Non-Permanent Resident Type: The majority of NPRs hold a work permit, totalling to 370,420 individuals. Following this are study permit holders, who number 202,790, while asylum claimants make up 139,200 of the NPR population. Individuals who hold both work and study permits total 131,560, and there are 80,875 NPRs of other types.
2. Age Group: The NPR population is generally skewed towards the younger age groups, with 60.1% of NPRs being between 20 and 34 years of age. Those below 19 years of age make up 15.4% of the NPR population, while individuals between 35 to 54 years old represent 21.8%. Notably, only 2.7% of NPRs are 55 years and older. This contrasts with the rest of the Canadian population, which has a more balanced age distribution.
3. Country of Birth: The origins of Canada's NPR population are notably diverse. The highest proportion, at 28.5%, hails from India, followed by China at 10.5%. France, Philippines, and Mexico represent 5.1%, 3.6%, and 3.5% of the NPR population respectively. The rest of the top ten countries of birth for NPRs include Nigeria, Iran, South Korea, Brazil, and the United States of America, each contributing less than 4% to the total NPR population.
4. Type of Dwelling and Housing Suitability: Housing suitability and type of dwelling shed light on the living conditions of NPRs. A significant 32.9% of NPRs live in unsuitable housing, a stark contrast to the 9.1% seen in the rest of the population. Furthermore, a high proportion of NPRs, at 59.4%, rent apartments, while 6% own apartments. A smaller segment, 19.1%, rent houses, and 15.3% own houses. This differs greatly from the broader population, where 62.9% own their houses.
5. Overqualification Rate: Regarding education and job suitability, among NPRs with a bachelor’s degree or higher, asylum claimants had the highest overqualification rate at 50.7%. This means they are working in jobs that require qualifications lower than what they possess. Similarly, work and study permit holders and study permit holders have high overqualification rates at 44.6% and 43.0% respectively. In contrast, work permit holders have a lower rate of 24.7%.

Source Stats Canada

In summary, the data reveals a young, diverse, and highly educated NPR population, often living in rented apartments and potentially working in roles for which they are overqualified. It underscores the diversity and challenges inherent in this subset of the Canadian population.

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