Canada’s population falls as immigration slows, census data shows

Canada’s population has declined for the first time in years, mainly due to a fall in immigration, according to new census data released by Statistics Canada.

The country’s population now stands at just under 41.6 million. It fell by about 76,000 people, or 0.18%, in the last quarter. The data follows nearly a year of almost no population growth. Statistics Canada said this was the first quarterly decline since the end of 2020, when border restrictions were in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The census agency said the decline was caused by a lower number of arrivals of non-permanent residents. These include people on temporary work and study permits.

Though the drop was small, it marked the largest quarterly population decline since 1946. Canada, like many countries in Europe and Asia, is facing low birth rates and has relied heavily on immigration to grow its population.

Canada has long been seen as open to immigrants. However, economic pressure after the pandemic and public concern over high living costs have reduced support for immigration. In response, the government has tightened rules and cut back on international work and study permits.

The move followed criticism of immigration policies under former prime minister Justin Trudeau. In 2022, Trudeau announced a plan to admit nearly 1.5 million immigrants between 2023 and 2025 to address labour shortages and support the economy. Around 1.2 million immigrants entered Canada during that period.

The policy led to public complaints that immigration was putting pressure on services such as health care and increasing housing costs. In October 2024, Trudeau reduced immigration targets for 2026 and 2027.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who succeeded Trudeau, has continued to limit immigration levels.