For the first time in history, Canada witnessed a population growth of over a million people last year, as reported by the government.
Statistics Canada revealed that the population rose from 38,516,138 to 39,566,248 individuals, registering the highest annual growth rate of 2.7% since 1957. This substantial growth can be attributed to the government’s proactive measures to attract migrants to address labor shortages and support the aging population. The previous record population growth rate in 1957 was related to the high number of births during the post-war baby boom and the high immigration of refugees following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
However, the influx of permanent and temporary immigrants also poses challenges in areas such as housing, infrastructure, transportation, and service delivery, as noted by Statistics Canada. Nearly 96% of the population growth resulted from international migration.
Since assuming office in 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been actively promoting immigration. In 2021, the government unveiled plans to admit half a million immigrants annually by 2025. Canada has also opened its doors to individuals affected by global crises, such as the war in Ukraine, the humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan, and the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
The government recently extended a program to temporarily resettle Ukrainians and their families until July. Out of nearly a million applications received, over 600,000 have been approved, and more than 130,000 individuals have relocated to Canada under this initiative.
In 2022, the country welcomed 437,000 immigrants, while the number of non-permanent residents increased by 607,782, marking a “record-breaking year for the processing of immigration applications,” as stated by the government’s news release. From October 1 to December 31, 2022, the period representing the fourth quarter of 2022, Canada’s population increased by 273,893 people (+0.7%). This was the highest rate of growth recorded in a fourth quarter since the same period in 1956 (+0.7%).
Canada now ranks first in population growth among the 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries for 2022 and is the fastest-growing G7 country, according to Statistics Canada. The government projects that if the 2.7% growth rate persists, Canada’s population will double in 26 years.
| Geography | Q1 2022 | Q2 2022 | Q3 2022 | Q4 2022 | Q1 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 38,516,138 | 38,644,920 | 38,929,902 | 39,292,355 | 39,566,248 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 522,501 | 523,043 | 525,972 | 528,818 | 531,948 |
| Prince Edward Island | 166,858 | 168,358 | 170,688 | 172,707 | 173,954 |
| Nova Scotia | 1,002,441 | 1,007,360 | 1,019,725 | 1,030,953 | 1,037,782 |
| New Brunswick | 799,245 | 802,862 | 812,061 | 820,786 | 825,474 |
| Quebec | 8,637,650 | 8,650,692 | 8,695,659 | 8,751,352 | 8,787,554 |
| Ontario | 14,940,912 | 14,996,014 | 15,109,416 | 15,262,660 | 15,386,407 |
| Manitoba | 1,398,303 | 1,401,967 | 1,409,223 | 1,420,228 | 1,431,792 |
| Saskatchewan | 1,185,311 | 1,188,338 | 1,194,803 | 1,205,119 | 1,214,618 |
| Alberta | 4,482,385 | 4,502,858 | 4,543,111 | 4,601,314 | 4,647,178 |
| British Columbia | 5,251,578 | 5,273,809 | 5,319,324 | 5,368,266 | 5,399,118 |
| Yukon | 43,241 | 43,518 | 43,789 | 43,964 | 44,238 |
| Northwest Territories | 45,710 | 45,698 | 45,605 | 45,602 | 45,493 |
| Nunavut | 40,003 | 40,403 | 40,526 | 40,586 | 40,692 |
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