In March, the Globe and Mail reported that Canada’s population had grown by 1.3 million in 2023—the largest annual increase on record.
This surge was driven by higher numbers of immigrants, international students, temporary foreign workers, and asylum claimants.
Given that the 2021 census showed that 8.3 million Canadians, or 23 percent of our population, had an immigrant background, this latest increase means that, in a Canada of over 40 million people, one in four of us is a temporary or permanent resident, or was born abroad. This proportion of newcomers is the highest since Confederation, beating the previous record of 22.3 percent set in 1921. By comparison, the immigrant share of the U.S. population is today about 14 percent.
NBF: “Canada: Population growth accelerates in 2024” pic.twitter.com/Yaw3G5qKwO
— Scott Barlow (@SBarlow_ROB) May 16, 2024
More … Immigration to Canada surges in April, worsening outlook for housing affordability
