Canada's population growth slows to historic lows amid falling migration
Statistics Canada reports that the country's population grew by 0.5% from July 2025 to July 2026, the smallest annual increase since the mid-1940s.
According to Statistics Canada, the nation's population reached an estimated 41,798,407 on July 1, 2026, up by 189,425 people (0.5%) from the previous year—the lowest absolute increase since 1944/45 and the smallest percentage gain since 1915/16. Growth rates have been falling each year since a 2.8% peak in 2023/24, now down to 0.5%, largely due to reduced international migration. The count of non-permanent residents dropped by 154,614 to 2,779,774, a decline driven by sharp reductions in study permit holders and combined work-study permits.
The second quarter added 80,343 people (0.2%), the weakest Q2 growth since 2020. Alberta experienced the highest provincial growth at 1.5%, whereas British Columbia grew only 0.1% and the Northwest Territories contracted by 0.3%. Demographically, the average age rose to 42.1 years, and seniors now comprise 20% of the population.
Why it matters
Slowing growth and aging demographics could affect Canada's labor market, economic outlook, and immigration policy.
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