The third quarter of 2022 witnessed the most rapid growth in Canada’s population, adding almost a percent to the total population.
Canada’s highest population growth was in 1957 because of the baby boomers and an influx of Hungarian refugees. The population growth was 1.2 percent, showing an increase of 198,000 people, pushing the total population to 16.7 million.
Immigration is still the most important driver of Canada’s population after over six decades. According to a recent report by Statistics Canada, the population was 39,292,355 on October 1, 2022, adding 362,453 people since Canada Day on July 1, 2022. It marked the highest population growth in a quarter since 1957.
The chief contribution to the population growth this year came from immigration, which added 340,666 people pushing the total to a record 39 million.
The first nine months of 2022 witnessed the addition of 776,217 people, which was the highest for any year since 1867. Canada’s ambitious immigration targets and supportive strategies attract students, workers, and settlers from overseas, fueling population growth.
Temporary residents were more responsible for increasing the population than temporary residents in the third quarter of 2022. The main contribution to the growth was from work permit holders. The highest number of 106,459 temporary residents came to Ontario, followed by British Columbia (39,429), and Quebec (34,299).
The new Immigration Levels Plan for the next three years, targeting 1.45 million new immigrants, reflects IRCC’s resolve to bring more immigrants to drive Canada’s economy, labor market, and demography.
