As of January 1, 2023, Statistics Canada reported that there were more than 39.5 million people living in the nation. For the first time in history, Canada’s population increased by more than a million in a single year. Canada’s population growth increased by a record high of 1,050,110 individuals between January 1 of 2022 and January 1 of 2023.
With a population growth rate of 2.7% in 2022, Canada has experienced its highest growth rate in 65 years (up from 3.3% in 1957). Keeping the current rate of population growth in place, Statistics Canada estimates that the Canadian population will double in around 26 years.
1956’s Hungarian Revolution and postwar baby boom had a great deal to do with Canada’s growth rate in 1957, but international migration is responsible for most of the country’s population growth this year (95.9%).
Canada’s record high population growth in 2022 – An analysis
“Non-permanent residents” accounted for about 607,782 of Canada’s population growth in 2022, mainly due to temporary immigration.
For 2022, Canada experienced another record high for temporary residents with more than 600,000. Data published by Statistics Canada indicate that temporary residents have increased across the country, with work permits, study permits, and asylum seekers reported to be on the rise.
Additionally, Canada accepted over 437,000 immigrants in a calendar year in 2022, breaking a previous record.
The Canadian government purposefully used immigration to address the nation’s labor shortages, resulting in both of these single-year records for total immigration and non-permanent residents. A low birth rate and an aging population in Canada create challenges for the national labor market, so the government of Canada welcomes record levels of immigration. Despite high job vacancies and near-record unemployment rates, the country is experiencing high job vacancies.
Canada’s population increased at a record rate in 2015 due to higher-than-ever immigration targets and an unprecedented processing year for immigration applications.
According to the most recent Immigration Levels Strategy for 2023-2025, the Canadian government plans to considerably expand immigration in the coming years, with 500,000 immigrants expected each year by 2025.
Immigrants contribution to Canada’s population growth in 2022 – A breakdown
Canadian immigration contributes to the country’s population growth by bringing in three major international demographic groups. International students, permanent residents, and skilled foreign workers fall into this category.
Permanent residents
A total of 437,000 new permanent residents (PRs) from more than 190 countries entered Canada in 2022, according to IRCC – (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). As a result, this number represents an increase of almost 8% from 2021, which exceeds the target set in the Immigration Levels Strategy for 2022-2024.
Based on the results of the survey, 58% of all PRs entered Canada under economic immigration schemes in 2022. The percentage of Canadian permanent residents who immigrated to Canada last year who were family-class immigrants was 22.2%, compared to 17.2% of all refugees or persons with special protection.
The following table shows how PRs are distributed across Canada in 2022 by province/territorial boundaries.
| Province/Territory | 2022 PRs | % of all PRs | % change from 2021 |
| Prince Edward Island | 2,665 | 0.6% | – |
| Province not stated | 20 | 0.0% | -0.1% |
| Nova Scotia | 12,650 | 2.8% | +0.6% |
| Ontario | 184,725 | 42.2% | -6.7% |
| Quebec | 68,685 | 15.7% | +3.4% |
| New Brunswick | 10,205 | 2.3% | +1% |
| Northwest Territories | 235 | 0.0% | -0.1% |
| Saskatchewan | 21,635 | 4.9% | +2.2% |
| British Columbia | 61,215 | 14% | -3.1% |
| Alberta | 49,460 | 11.3% | +1.4% |
| Manitoba | 21,645 | 4.9% | +0.8% |
| Yukon | 455 | 0.1% | – |
| Nunavut | 45 | 0.0% | – |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 3,490 | 0.7% | +0.2% |
| Canada total | 437,120 | 100% | – |
International students
551 405 international students attended Canadian universities in 2017.
According to Statistics Canada, in 2022, the following 10 nations sent the most international students to Canada:
- India is the top source country of immigrants. A total of 226,450 people moved to Canada in 2022 from India.
- 52,165 people moved to Canada from the People’s Republic of China.
- 23,380 people migrated to Canada from the Philippines.
- 16,725 individuals immigrate to Canada from France.
- 16,195 people moved to Canada from Nigeria.
- 13,525 people moved to Canada from Iran.
- 11,535 migrated to Canada from the Republic of Korea.
- A total of 10,955 people moved to Canada from Japan.
- From Mexico, 10,405 people moved to Canada.
- 10,405 people moved to Canada from Brazil.
According to last year’s statistics, Ontario (411,000 students) was the province with the most international students. A close third place was occupied by Quebec (93,000), followed by British Columbia (164,000).
The following seven Canadian provinces round out this list.
- 43000 in Alberta
- 22000 in Manitoba
- 20850 in Nova Scotia
- 13135 in Saskatchewan
- 11140 in New Brunswick
- 6175 in Newfoundland and Labrador; and
- 4485 in Prince Edward Island
Foreign Skilled workers
It is estimated that 608,420 work permits were issued across Canada in 2022, which is a record high. Compared to 2021 (414,000), nearly 200,000 more work permits were issued last year.
According to that figure, the vast majority (77%, 472,070 permit holders) of working-permit holders that migrate to Canada in 2022 entered via the IMP – (International Mobility Program). In addition to 136,350 permits, the TFWP – (Temporary Foreign Worker Program) was responsible for the issuance of the remaining permits.
A majority of work permits issued last year to medical residents and fellows, and post-graduate employment candidates, consisted of IMP permits (36%) for medical residents and fellows. Agriculture workers, on the other hand, held the majority (51%), of TFWP work permits in 2022.
Canada’s population growth in Q4 2022
According to Statistics Canada, the fourth quarter of 2022 marked the fastest growth in Canada’s population (+0.7%) since 1956 (also +0.7%).
83,152 new immigrants arrived in Canada in the final three months of 2022, making it the country that has received the most estimated net new non-permanent residents (+196,262) out of any fourth quarter at which comparable data are available.
The United Nations reports that international migration accounted for 97.7% of the population growth in Q4 2017; this figure is consistent with the overall trend for the year 2022. It’s crucial to keep in mind that Q4 covers the time frame from October 1 to December 31, 2022.
