On this page you will find:
- How quickly Canada’s population growth has slowed
- Why Canada’s non-permanent resident population is falling
- The impact of fewer international students
- How lower permanent immigration targets are affecting population growth
- Which provinces are growing fastest
- How lower immigration is changing Canada’s age profile
Canada has recorded its slowest annual population growth in decades as lower immigration targets and a shrinking temporary resident population reshape the country’s demographic picture.
New Statistics Canada figures show Canada’s population reached an estimated 41,798,407 on July 1, 2026.
That represented an increase of just 189,425 people, or 0.5 per cent, compared with July 1, 2025.
It was the smallest July-to-July population increase since 1944/1945 in absolute numbers and the lowest percentage growth since 1915/1916.
The slowdown marks a dramatic change from the rapid population expansion Canada experienced earlier this decade.
Statistics Canada says the changes in population growth since 2020 are almost entirely attributable to changes in international migration.
The latest figures show both sides of Canada’s immigration system contributing to the slowdown – fewer new permanent residents are arriving, while the number of non-permanent residents already in Canada is falling.
Canada’s Population Growth Falls To 0.5 Per Cent
Canada’s population growth accelerated rapidly after pandemic-era border restrictions ended.
Annual population growth rose from 0.6 per cent in 2020/2021 to 1.8 per cent in 2021/2022 and 2.7 per cent in 2022/2023.
It peaked at 2.8 per cent in 2023/2024 before falling sharply to 1.1 per cent in 2024/2025 and 0.5 per cent in 2025/2026.
The trend continued during the most recent quarter.
Canada added 80,343 people between April 1 and July 1, 2026, an increase of 0.2 per cent. That was the lowest second-quarter growth since 2020, when international travel restrictions were in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statistics Canada says the rapid changes since 2020 have been driven almost entirely by international migration.
That means Canada’s recent immigration policy changes are now showing clearly in the country’s headline population numbers.
Canada’s Non-Permanent Resident Population Falls By More Than 150,000
The most significant change has come among Canada’s non-permanent residents, a category that includes many international students, foreign workers and asylum claimants.
Statistics Canada estimates there were 2,779,774 non-permanent residents in Canada on July 1, 2026.
That was 154,614 fewer than a year earlier, representing the largest July-to-July decline since comparable records began in 1971/1972.
Non-permanent residents accounted for 6.7 per cent of Canada’s population on July 1.
That proportion has fallen from its October 1, 2024 peak, when Canada had an estimated 2,984,285 non-permanent residents representing 7.2 per cent of the population.
The figures provide further evidence of the impact of federal measures designed to reduce Canada’s temporary resident population.
International Student Numbers Drive Much Of The Decline
International students stand out in the Statistics Canada figures.
The number of study permit holders fell by 140,827 during 2025/2026, while the number of people holding both work and study permits declined by 81,163.
The impact can also be seen in Canada’s age profile.
The population aged 20 to 24 fell by 63,838, or 2.4 per cent, while the number aged 25 to 29 declined by 91,135, or 3.1 per cent.
Overall, Canada’s population in its 20s declined by 154,973 people, or 2.8 per cent.
Statistics Canada says the trend is consistent with the decline in study permit holders because international students tend to be young adults.
This represents an important demographic consequence of Canada’s tighter international student policies. Reducing temporary immigration does not simply slow overall population growth – it disproportionately reduces the number of younger adults in the country.
Permanent Immigration Also Falls As Canada Lowers Targets
Temporary residents are only part of the picture.
Canada also welcomed fewer new permanent residents during the latest July-to-July period.
Statistics Canada recorded 368,224 new immigrants during 2025/2026, marking the fourth consecutive annual decline.
It was also the first time since 2021/2022 that the annual total had fallen below 400,000.
Statistics Canada directly linked the decline to Canada’s lower annual immigration targets.
Permanent immigration decreased in every province and Yukon between July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026. Only the Northwest Territories and Nunavut recorded increases.
During the second quarter of 2026 alone, Canada welcomed 99,148 immigrants – 4.2 per cent fewer than the 103,527 recorded during the same quarter in 2025.
Immigration Cuts Affect Provinces Differently
Canada’s changing immigration levels are also producing different population trends across the provinces.
Alberta recorded the strongest provincial population growth between July 2025 and July 2026, increasing by 1.5 per cent.
New Brunswick and Saskatchewan both grew by 1.0 per cent, followed by Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia at 0.8 per cent and Manitoba at 0.6 per cent.
All six exceeded Canada’s national growth rate of 0.5 per cent.
By contrast, the three largest provinces grew more slowly than the national average.
Ontario‘s population increased by 0.3 per cent, Quebec‘s by 0.2 per cent and British Columbia‘s by just 0.1 per cent.
Statistics Canada notes that these provinces traditionally receive a large share of international migrants, making their population growth particularly sensitive to changes in immigration levels.
The Northwest Territories was the only province or territory to record an overall population decline, falling by 127 people, or 0.3 per cent.
Lower Immigration Is Accelerating Canada’s Population Aging
The immigration slowdown is also beginning to affect Canada’s demographic profile.
Canada’s median age reached 40.9 on July 1, 2026, while the average age rose to 42.1.
This reverses an unusual trend seen during the period of exceptionally high immigration between 2021 and 2024.
Because immigrants and temporary residents tend to be younger than Canada’s existing population, high levels of international migration had reduced the median age and kept the average age relatively stable.
With international migration returning closer to pre-2020 levels, Canada’s longstanding population aging trend has resumed.
This creates an important longer-term immigration policy question.
Canada has reduced immigration amid pressure on housing, health care, infrastructure and public services. But lower immigration also means slower labour force growth and fewer younger newcomers entering a country with a growing proportion of older residents.
People aged 65 and older now account for 20.0 per cent of Canada’s population.
Statistics Canada Changes How It Counts Temporary Residents
Statistics Canada also introduced important methodological changes with its latest population estimates.
The agency now uses Canada Border Services Agency entry and exit information to better estimate the proportion of permit holders who leave Canada before their permits expire.
It has also changed its methodology to better capture people who remain legally in Canada on maintained status while waiting for a decision on a permit extension.
Statistics Canada says these changes should provide a more accurate picture of when permit holders actually leave Canada or remain in the country.
The agency has consequently revised its estimates of non-permanent residents, and therefore Canada’s overall population, dating back to July 1, 2021.
This is important when comparing the latest temporary resident figures with estimates published previously.
Statistics Canada also cautions against directly comparing its non-permanent resident estimates with IRCC temporary resident statistics because the two organizations produce their figures for different purposes.
Canada’s Immigration Reset Is Now Visible In Population Data
The latest figures provide some of the clearest evidence yet of how Canada’s immigration reset is changing the country’s population trajectory.
Canada moved from exceptionally rapid population growth in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to growth of just 0.5 per cent in the latest year.
The shift is happening through two channels simultaneously.
Canada is admitting fewer permanent residents under lower immigration targets, while its existing population of temporary residents is shrinking, led by a steep decline among international students.
For prospective immigrants, this does not mean Canada has stopped immigration. The country continues to admit hundreds of thousands of permanent residents annually and still has almost 2.8 million non-permanent residents.
But the scale and composition of migration are changing significantly.
The new Statistics Canada figures show that those policy changes are no longer merely targets for future years. They are already having a measurable effect on Canada’s population size, growth rate and age structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Canada’s population growth slowed?
Canada’s population grew by just 0.5 per cent between July 2025 and July 2026. Statistics Canada says recent changes in population growth are almost entirely attributable to international migration. Canada admitted fewer permanent immigrants while its non-permanent resident population also declined.
How many non-permanent residents are in Canada?
Statistics Canada estimated that 2,779,774 non-permanent residents were living in Canada on July 1, 2026, representing 6.7 per cent of the population. That was down by 154,614 from a year earlier and below the October 2024 peak of almost 3 million.
Are international student numbers falling in Canada?
Yes. Statistics Canada says the number of study permit holders declined by 140,827 between July 2025 and July 2026. The decline has also affected Canada’s age structure, with the number of people in their 20s falling by almost 155,000 during the same period.
Is Canada admitting fewer permanent residents?
Yes. Canada welcomed 368,224 new immigrants during 2025/2026, according to Statistics Canada. This marked the fourth consecutive annual decline and the first July-to-July period since 2021/2022 in which the number fell below 400,000. Statistics Canada linked the decline to lower federal immigration targets.
How is lower immigration affecting Canada’s population?
Lower immigration is slowing Canada’s overall population growth and contributing to population aging. International migrants tend to be younger than Canada’s existing population. As migration levels have declined, Canada’s median and average ages have started rising again, while the number of people in their 20s has fallen.