Canada population growth hits century low as immigration
Canada's population grew by just 0.5% in 2025/2026, the slowest rate since 1916, driven by a sharp drop in non-permanent residents and a continued decline
Canada's population grew by just 0.5% from July 2025 to July 2026. The addition of 189,425 people marks the smallest July-to-July increase since 1945 in absolute numbers and the lowest percentage growth since 1916.
This historic slowdown follows years of robust expansion. The annual growth rate has fallen sharply from a recent peak of 2.8% in 2023/2024.
| Period | Annual Population Growth Rate |
|---|---|
| 2020/2021 | 0.6% |
| 2021/2022 | 1.8% |
| 2022/2023 | 2.7% |
| 2023/2024 | 2.8% |
| 2024/2025 | 1.1% |
| 2025/2026 | 0.5% |
Sharp drop in non-permanent residents drives decline
The number of non-permanent residents fell by 154,614 over the year to about 2.78 million. They now represent 6.7 percent of Canada's population.
The decline was driven largely by fewer people holding both work and study permits. The number of study permit holders alone fell by 140,827. The category of people holding both types of permits saw a decrease of 81,163 individuals.
Permanent immigration continues multi-year decline
Permanent immigration declined for the fourth consecutive year in 2025/2026. It fell below 400,000 for the first time since 2021/2022.
The decrease was widespread. Permanent immigration dropped in every province and Yukon. Only Northwest Territories and Nunavut recorded increases. The trend continued into the second quarter of 2026, with immigrant arrivals down 4.2 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Regional divergence highlights Alberta's strength
While national growth slowed, regional patterns diverged sharply. Alberta recorded the strongest provincial population growth at 1.5%. Five other provinces also exceeded the national average of 0.5%.
| Province/Territory | Growth Rate (July 2025-July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 1.5% |
| New Brunswick | 1.0% |
| Saskatchewan | 1.0% |
| Prince Edward Island | 0.8% |
| Nova Scotia | 0.8% |
| Manitoba | 0.6% |
| Ontario | 0.3% |
| Quebec | 0.2% |
| British Columbia | 0.1% |
In contrast, the three largest provinces grew slower than the national average. Ontario's population increased by 0.3%, Quebec's by 0.2%, and British Columbia's by just 0.1%.
Aging population shows long-term implications
The slowdown is accelerating Canada's population aging. The country's median age reached 40.9 on July 1, 2026, while the average age rose to 42.1. One in five residents is now aged 65 or older.
A significant decline in younger cohorts is a key factor. The overall population in their 20s declined by 154,973 people, a drop of 2.8%. The number of people aged 25 to 29 fell by 91,135, a 3.1% decrease.
Statistics Canada attributes the slowdown largely to 'changing international migration trends.' The agency noted that "the rapid changes since 2020 have been driven almost entirely by international migration." It now uses updated methodology, including border agency data, to track permit holders who leave before their status expires.
