The top countries of Canadian immigrants in 2022 were recently revealed by IRCC. The department released the latest data, indicating that around 437,120 permanent residents arrived in Canada last year. It also stated that this figure reflects an eight percent increase in permanent residents compared to 2021.
Top countries for Canadian immigrants
Canada surpassed its immigration target plans for the second consecutive year this time. The country encompassed the target of 2022 by over 5,000 individuals.22 target was 431,645. 2022 was unique for Canada because this year happened to be the third instance when it received 400,000 immigrants in one year. The other years with similar achievements include 1913 and 2021.
Additionally, in 2020, Canada received around 184,000 PRs, and this was only due to pandemic restrictions.
Last year, the economic immigration programs turned out to be the most prominent source of inviting immigrants to Canada. Moreover, Canadian immigrants arrived in Canada using the economic streams. These mostly included business programs, skilled worker programs, the Provincial Nominee Programs, and TR2PR pathways. Besides this, these pathways brought about 58.5 percent of all Canadian Permanent Residents in 2022.
New PR arrivals in Canada in 2022
Interestingly, Canada managed to welcome at least 23,000 permanent residents in each month of 2022. Here’s a list of the accurate figure of Canadian Permanent Residents who arrived in the country each month in 2022:
- January welcomed at least 35,450 PRs.
- February witnessed the arrival of 37,360 PRs.
- March welcomed 40,985 PRs.
- April received at least 36,365 PRs.
- May witnessed the arrival of 37,985 PRs.
- June saw the arrival of 43,940 PRs.
- July had about 43,330 PRs.
- August welcomed around 34,135 PRs.
- September saw the arrival of 44,645 PRs.
- October witnessed 33.625 PR arrivals.
- November saw the arrival of 25,970 PRs.
- December witnessed the arrival of 23,340.
Canadian immigration Class PR arrivals in 2022
256,000 new PR arrivals were seen in 2022 under the economic-class immigration programs. This also indicates that 14,150 more immigrants under economic class arrived in Canada. This is because the number exceeded the original target of the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan.
This plan came out in the middle of February and had a difference of beyond 5.8 percent. Additionally, around 97,165 new Canadian PRs arrived in Canada using the Family Class of immigration programs.
This number represents at least 22.2 percent of the overall new Canadian permanent residents who came to Canada. However, this figure reflects a shortage of around 105,000 individuals to fulfill the target of the Immigration Levels Plan for 2022-2024.
Overall, in 2022, around 75,330 resettled refugees and protected individuals arrived in Canada. This class was responsible for 17.2 percent of the new Canadian PRs. However, this proves to be an increased number of immigrants compared to the ones who came to Canada in 2021. There were around 60,115 individuals in 2021. Furthermore, IRCC revealed that it ran short of 76,565 individuals per the target for the refugee class. This accounted for 17.7 percent of all the new Canadian PRs.
The rest of the 8,500 Canadian PRs were classified under “All Other Immigration.”
Top countries of Canadian immigrants and PRs in 2022
The top countries of Canadian immigrants and new Permanent Residents in 2022 differ from the last year’s data. However, the change is only a minute one. The shift came in terms of Brazil and South Korea moving out of the top ten list, with Afghanistan and Syria replacing these countries.
On the other hand, there is India, which is currently taking charge by being the top Canadian immigration source among other countries. China is in second place, and this situation is quite similar to the one a year ago. However, the percentage of immigrants in 2022 for India and China had declined from that of 2021. It stands at 32 and 8 percent, respectively.
Canadian immigration considers the following top ten countries to be the major source:
- 118,095 immigrants from India, with 27 percent of total Canadian PR (from India).
- 31,815 immigrants from China, with 7.2 percent of total PR (from China).
- 23,735 immigrants from Afghanistan, with 5.4 percent of total PR (from Afghanistan).
- 22,085 immigrants from Nigeria with 5.05 percent of total Canadian PR (from Nigeria).
- 22,070 immigrants from the Philippines with 5.04 percent of total Canadian PR.
- 14,145 immigrants from France, with 3.2 percent of total Canadian PR.
- 11,585 immigrants from Pakistan with 2.6 percent of total Canadian PR.
- 11,105 immigrants from Iran with 2.5 percent of total Canadian PR.
- 10,400 immigrants from the United States of America with 2.3 percent of Canadian PR.
- 8,500 immigrants from Syria with 1.9 percent of Canadian PR.
Top places for Permanent Residents in 2022
The top immigration places for Permanent Residents in 2022 include Ontario. This is the foremost destination for Canadian PRs. However, Quebec also replaced British Columbia as the initial preference PRs to settle in Canada among the above group.
2022 witnessed Ontario to be the most preferred destination for initial settlement purposes. Around 42.2 percent of new Canadian PRs selected this place. Moreover, this could have been an initiative of Canada to spread awareness of the advantages of Canadian immigration. This is evident from the fact that PNP is more prominent than Express Entry.
The second position was held by Quebec, which brought forth 68,685 immigrants in 2022. This number of immigrants also accounts for at least 15.7 percent of all newcomers. Furthermore, this is a small increase from 12 percent in 2021.
Lastly, British Columbia introduced 14 percent of Canadian immigrants in 2022. This was only three percent less compared to last year. Additionally, Alberta was the only area with an increase of 10 percent in the number of Canadian immigrants who came in 2022.
Alberta brought in about 49,460 newcomers throughout the year, with 11.3 percent.
Canadian Provinces and Territories- essential data
Refer to the table given below for all Canadian territories and provinces, the number of PRs arrived in specific regions in 2022. The table will also depict the change in the percentages of the PRs in the areas compared to the 2021 data.
| Canadian Province/Territory | Permanent Residents in 2022 | Percentage of all PRs | Percentage 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% | – |
