Canada’s population drops by 100,000 in late 2025 amid sharp fall in temporary residents

Canada’s population shrank by more than 100,000 in the final three months of 2025, marking a sharp reversal from earlier gains in the year, as a steep drop in temporary residents, particularly those on study and work permits, outpaced new arrivals and natural growth, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday(March 18).

Canada added 77,136 residents between January and June 2025, but Statistics Canada noted that this early-year growth was insufficient to offset a population decline of 179,572 in the final six months.

According to CTV News website, Statistics Canada said the primary driver of the fourth-quarter population decline was a drop of 171,000 non-permanent residents, largely among individuals holding study or work permits.


The agency added that recent immigration legislation could influence Canada’s population trends in the months ahead.

On March 13, Canada introduced a temporary measure to help Quebec fast-track nearly 33,000 skilled workers from work permits to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. Despite these measures, Statistics Canada projects population growth will likely remain below fourth-quarter levels seen in 2023 and 2024.

In contrast, the country added over 80,000 residents in the fourth quarter of 2024.

During the same period in 2023, Canada’s population rose by nearly 257,000, driven largely by permanent and temporary international migration, Statistics Canada noted at the time.

Canada recorded 83,000 new permanent residents in the last quarter of 2025, the sole contributor to population growth during this period. While 19 percent lower than in 2024, these arrivals helped counteract falling natural birth rates.

From October 2025 to January 2026, Canada recorded 781 more deaths than births.

According to the CTV News website, Statistics Canada warned that the reported population decline in 2025 may be temporary, as recent surges in work and study permit extensions could lead to revised numbers in the months ahead.