Canadian immigration leads to record-breaking population growth, according to Statistics Canada. The overall population will be approximately more than 39.5 million. The data is relevant as of January 1, 2023. Furthermore, it indicates that the Canadian population increased by more than a million individuals in one year. Canada witnessed a population growth of 1,050,110 between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023. This is indeed a massive record-breaking figure.
In 2022, Canada witnessed the highest population growth rate, with an additional 2.7 percent growth. This growth rate is one of the most significant over the last sixty-five years.
According to the existing population growth, if the percentage remains consistent, the Canadian population will nearly double in the upcoming 26 years.
Conversely, the Canadian population growth rate in 1957 was indeed a consequence of refugee immigration and the drastic temporary rise in the birth rate. This also emerged due to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Additionally, the entire Canadian population growth in 2022 occurred due to international migration. The growth rate was nearly 95.9 percent.
Canadian immigration leads to record-breaking population growth in 2022
Canada’s population growth across 2022 took place through temporary immigration. This is primarily due to Canada’s overall increase of approximately 607 782 non-permanent residents. Canada’s expansion in the number of temporary residents for 2022 with an additional 600,000 makes it a record-breaking year. The latest data revealed the rise in temporary residents resulted from the nationwide surge. Furthermore, Canadian provinces and territories witnessed a higher growth in work permits, asylum claimants, and study permits.
In 2022, Canada also displayed a remarkable growth in the number of immigrants received in one year, more than 437,000.
Additionally, both these records within one year related to immigration and non-permanent residents are directly a consequence of the Canadian government’s effort. The government has taken several initiatives to consciously combat the acute labor shortages in Canada. Besides this, Canada aims to receive record-breaking immigration levels to the existing challenges within the Canadian labor market. These challenges have risen due to Canada’s aging population and reduced birth rate.
The year 2022 marks the record for population growth as a consequence of the unparalleled immigration targets. Apart from this, the number of processed applications also rose in 2022.
Canada’s latest immigration levels plan (2023-2025) reflects the government’s hope to witness increased immigration in the following three years. The targets have surpassed all previous figures, accounting for up to 500,000 immigrants by the end of 2025.
Canadian immigration’s contribution to 2022 population growth
The three primary groups of immigrants arriving in Canada lead to massive population growth. These could be international students, permanent students, and skilled foreign workers.
Permanent Residents
In 2022, IRCC data implies that Canada received more than 437,000 new permanent residents from 190 diverse countries. The above figure clearly indicates a remarkable rise in the immigration levels plan’s target. The Immigration Levels Plan for 2022 to 2024 reflects a rise of 8 percent compared to 2021. The target was set to be over 431,000.
According to the latest data, over 58 percent of permanent residents in Canada arrived through the economic immigration programs last year. Also, 22.2 percent of PRs arrived in the country under the Family-class, whereas 17.2 percent arrived in Canada under the refugees or protected person category.
Refer to the table for the PR allocation throughout Canada in 2022 through a province or territory.
| Province/Territory | 2022 PRs | % of all PRs | % change from 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 3,490 | 0.7% | +0.2% |
| Prince Edward Island | 2,665 | 0.6% | – |
| Nova Scotia | 12,650 | 2.8% | +0.6% |
| New Brunswick | 10,205 | 2.3% | +1% |
| Quebec | 68,685 | 15.7% | +3.4% |
| Ontario | 184,725 | 42.2% | -6.7% |
| Manitoba | 21,645 | 4.9% | +0.8% |
| Saskatchewan | 21,635 | 4.9% | +2.2% |
| Alberta | 49,460 | 11.3% | +1.4% |
| British Columbia | 61,215 | 14% | -3.1% |
| Yukon | 455 | 0.1% | – |
| Northwest Territories | 235 | 0.0% | -0.1% |
| Nunavut | 45 | 0.0% | – |
| Province not stated | 20 | 0.0% | -0.1% |
| Canada total | 437,120 | 100% | – |
International students
Nearly 551,405 international students landed in Canada the previous year from, 184 diverse countries. Ten countries from all over the world contributed to the maximum number of international students in 2022. They are as follows:
- India welcomed around 226,450.
- the People’s Republic of China welcomed 52,165 international students.
- 23,380 international students from the Philippines.
- 16,725 international students from France.
- Nigeria welcomed nearly 16,195.
- 13,525 from Iran.
- Republic of Korea- 11,535
- 10,955 from Japan.
- 10,405 from Mexico.
- 10,405 from Brazil.
Canadian international students mostly preferred Ontario for their studies last year. The figure was nearly 411,000. The second most prominent province was British Columbia, with 164,000 international students. On the other hand, the third province in the top three list was Quebec with around 93,000.
The rest of the seven Canadian provinces are as follows (according to their ranking):
4. 43,000 from Alberta.
5. 22,000 from Manitoba.
6. 20,085 from Nova Scotia.
7. 13,135 from Saskatchewan.
8. 11,140 from New Brunswick.
9. 6,175 from Newfoundland and Labrador.
10. 4,485 from Prince Edward Island.
Foreign Skilled Workers
2022 also witnessed as many as 608,420 work permits in Canada. Furthermore, this implies that almost 200,000 additional work permits were in effect compared to those issued in 2021.
Evidently, nearly 77 percent of Canadian work permit holders arrived in Canada through the International Mobility Program. This percentage accounts for 472,070 work permit holders. The rest of the 136,350 work permits came into effect under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The highest rate of work permits under the IMP belonged to medical residents and students and post-graduation employment applicants. The highest percentage was 36 percent of them. Meanwhile, around 51 percent of TFWP work permits belong to agricultural workers in 2022.
Canadian population growth in Quarter 4
Notably, according to Statistics Canada, the highest population growth in 2022 occurred in Quarter 4, with a 0.7 percent growth rate. By far, since 1956, this is the highest-ever population growth rate. In the last three months of 2022, they witnessed an additional 83,152 immigrants in Canada. These immigrants came to Canada when the country had welcomed maximum PRs in any Q4. The estimated data is more than 196,262.
Aligning with the usual trend of 2022, the fourth quarter of immigration was largely due to international migration. The fourth quarter period was between October 1 to December 31, 2022.
