Canada Records Lowest Population Growth Since 1945

Canada's population grew by 0.5 percent to an estimated 41.8 million as of July 1, 2026, marking the lowest annual growth pace since 1945. According to Statistics Canada, the yearly increase of 189,425 people represents a sharp deceleration driven by changes in international migration and lower immigration targets.

Mark Carney and his government implemented tightened immigration policies and reductions in temporary residents to curb growth. The number of non-permanent residents fell by 154,614 to 2.78 million, the largest decrease since records began in 1971/1972. This decline was most significant among study-permit and work-and-study permit holders. New immigrants fell to 368,224 in 2025/2026, dropping below 400,000 for the first time since 2021/2022.

To maintain this trend, the government has targeted a more than 40 percent cut to temporary immigrant entries for 2026 and 2027, aiming to reduce their share of the total population to 5 percent by 2027. While Alberta remained the fastest-growing province, growth slowed in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. The shift has contributed to a renewed aging of the population, with the average age reaching 42.1 years.