Canada Population Growth Rate: Canada’s population has witnessed an unprecedented surge, with the latest estimates revealing a significant increase. As of October 1, 2023, Canada’s population reached 40,528,396, marking an impressive growth of 430,635 people, or 1.1%, from July 1 of the same year. This surge is particularly noteworthy as it represents the highest population growth rate in any quarter since the second quarter of 1957 when the population grew by 1.2%.
Alberta Population Growth
To put this growth into perspective, the surge is reminiscent of the post-war baby boom and the influx of refugees following the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. At that time, Canada’s population stood at 16.7 million, and the rapid growth was fueled by both high birth rates and substantial immigration.
Canada Population Growth Rate 2023
The growth in the first nine months of 2023 has already surpassed any other full-year period since Confederation in 1867, even surpassing the record growth observed in 2022. The population growth rates in the third quarter of 2023 exceeded the national level of 1.1% in Alberta (1.3%), Prince Edward Island (1.2%), and Ontario (1.2%), showcasing widespread demographic shifts.
Drivers of Population Growth
International migration emerged as the primary driver of Canada’s population growth, contributing a staggering 96.0% to the increase in the third quarter of 2023. The remaining 4.0% was attributed to natural increase, representing the difference between births and deaths. However, the contribution of natural increase is expected to remain low in the future due to factors such as population aging and lower fertility levels.
Canada Inflation Rate
In the third quarter of 2023 alone, Canada welcomed 107,972 immigrants, reaching nearly 80% of the annual target set by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. The rise in non-permanent residents was notable, with an increase from 2,198,679 to 2,511,437. This surge, a net increase of 312,758 non-permanent residents, is the largest quarterly increase since 1971, when data on non-permanent residents became available. The growth in non-permanent residents was primarily driven by an uptick in work and study permit holders and, to a lesser extent, an increase in the number of refugee claimants.
Canada Population 2023
In the realm of interprovincial migration, Alberta stands out with continuous net gains. The province registered a net gain of 17,094 in the third quarter of 2023, marking five consecutive quarters of significant gains. This trend, the first of its kind since comparable data were available in 1971, underscores Alberta’s attractiveness to migrants from all provinces and territories. The majority of Alberta’s gains were through exchanges with Ontario and British Columbia.
Shifting Migration Trends in Other Provinces
Interestingly, all provinces and territories, except Alberta and New Brunswick, recorded losses in their interprovincial migration exchanges in the third quarter of 2023. New Brunswick experienced a small gain of 21. Notably, British Columbia faced five consecutive quarters of interprovincial migration losses, while Ontario’s net loss in the third quarter of 2023 decreased compared to previous periods.
The surge in Canada’s population in 2023 is unparalleled, breaking records and surpassing historical benchmarks. The prominence of international migration, the notable rise in non-permanent residents, and Alberta’s sustained success in interprovincial migration contribute to this demographic shift. As Canada continues to evolve, these population dynamics will shape the nation’s economic and social landscape in the years to come.
