Calgary 
Canada’s population has grown to an estimated 39,566,248 people as of January 1, 2023, following a record-high increase of 1,050,110 people from the previous year, according to Statistics Canada’s latest demographic estimate.
Credit: Isabel Piñeiro/ Unsplash
This growth marks the first time in Canadian history that the population has grown by over one million people within a year, and it has been largely driven by international migration, which accounted for 95.9% of the total growth.
The annual population growth rate of 2.7% is the highest on record since 1957, when the baby boom and an influx of refugees following the Hungarian Revolution led to a rate of 3.3%.
Statistics Canada says the rise in international migration can be attributed to the Canadian government’s efforts to address labour shortages in key sectors of the economy, which have been exacerbated by population aging and low unemployment rates. However, this growth may pose challenges related to housing, infrastructure, transportation, and service delivery in certain regions of the country.
Temporary immigration has been the main contributor to Canada’s population growth says Statistics Canada, with 437,180 immigrants and 607,782 non-permanent residents estimated to have entered the country in 2022. These numbers represent record levels and reflect the higher immigration targets and faster processing of applications by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. All provinces and territories have seen an increase in the net estimated number of non-permanent residents, with work and study permits and asylum claims being major factors.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, Canada’s population grew by 0.7%, the highest rate recorded for a fourth quarter since 1956, with international migration accounting for 97.7% of the total growth.
| Geography | Population Estimate |
|---|---|
| Persons | |
| Canada | 39,566,248 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 531,948 |
| Prince Edward Island | 173,954 |
| Nova Scotia | 1,037,782 |
| New Brunswick | 825,474 |
| Quebec | 8,787,554 |
| Ontario | 15,386,407 |
| Manitoba | 1,431,792 |
| Saskatchewan | 1,214,618 |
| Alberta | 4,647,178 |
| British Columbia | 5,399,118 |
| Yukon | 44,238 |
| Northwest Territories | 45,493 |
| Nunavut | 40,692 |
Credit: Statistics Canada. Table 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterly
