A recent report has revealed that new immigrants made up 61 per cent of Canada’s population growth in 2018.
The latest Statistics Canada data shows that by the start of 2019, Canada’s population had reached 37,314,442, following a record increase of new immigrants in the fourth quarter of 2018. The Statistics Canada report indicates that a population growth bump is unusual for a fourth quarter of a year, as this is typically when population growth slows down due to seasonal patterns.
Over the course of 2018, Canada’s population grew by over half a million, or 528,421 people, with immigration adding over 320,000 extra permanent residents to the population during this period. When temporary residents are also added to the equation then international migration accounts for approximately 80.5 per cent of the total population growth.
The reported immigration numbers comfortably surpass natural growth numbers (births minus deaths) for the year, which is recorded at 103,176.
The Statistics Canada data also shows that in 9 out of 10 Canadian provinces, international migration was the main driver behind population growth over natural and interprovincial increases during the fourth quarter of 2018.
And it is likely that immigration will continue to be a main driver of Canada’s population growth for the foreseeable future. Late last year it was announced that Canada will aim to welcome one million new permanent immigrants to the country by 2021, with a small increase to the intake target number each year between now and then.
Article published 27th March 2019