Canada’s population reached 41.3 million as of July 1, 2024. Even though the population is growing, the rate of increase has started to slow down. This deceleration contrasts with the rapid gains seen in previous years, yet international migration continues to play a dominant role in shaping the country’s demographic landscape.
In the second quarter of 2024, Canada added 250,229 new residents, reflecting a quarterly growth rate of 0.6%. While the country’s population remains on an upward trajectory, this marks a notable slowdown compared to the same periods in 2023 and 2022, where growth was higher at 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. This is the first instance since 2020 where Canada’s second-quarter population growth has slowed when compared to the previous year.
The slowdown in growth can be attributed largely to a reduced influx of non-permanent residents. From April to July 2024, there was a net increase of 117,836 non-permanent residents—significantly lower than earlier periods. A key reason for this reduction was a dip in the number of study permit holders, a trend that has persisted since late 2023.
Nevertheless, Canada still welcomed a considerable number of immigrants during this period. With 134,138 new permanent residents arriving between April and July, the country saw its largest quarterly intake since early 2023, underscoring the ongoing importance of immigration to the country’s demographic growth.
International migration has been the cornerstone of the population expansion, accounting for a staggering 96% of the population growth in the second quarter of 2024. Natural increase, or the difference between births and deaths, contributed only 4%, reflecting broader trends of low fertility and an aging population.
Fertility rates in Canada have been on a steady decline, with 2023 recording the lowest fertility rate in the nation’s history at 1.26 children per woman. As natural growth diminishes in significance, migration continues to fill the gap, reinforcing Canada’s status as a destination for newcomers seeking work, study, and other opportunities.
While immigration has bolstered Canada’s population figures, the country’s demographic structure is evolving. Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—continue to grow in number, largely due to international migration. Over the past year, more than 416,000 individuals joined the millennial age group, making it the largest generation in Canada.
Population growth was not uniform across provinces and territories. Alberta emerged as the fastest-growing region for the fourth consecutive quarter, posting a 1.0% growth rate between April and July 2024. The province’s population surge was driven by a combination of international migration (+31,877), interprovincial migration (+9,654), and natural increase (+4,669), solidifying its position as a hub for newcomers and internal migrants alike.
In stark contrast, the Northwest Territories experienced the slowest growth at 0.1%. While the region saw a small increase due to natural growth and international migration, it lost more residents to interprovincial migration than it gained.
The overall trend for interprovincial migration in Canada has started to stabilize, with 306,756 people moving between provinces and territories in 2023/2024. This figure is closer to pre-pandemic levels, following a spike in internal migration during the pandemic years, which saw Canadians relocating within the country at higher rates.
While international migration has temporarily lowered the median age of Canada’s population, the country’s population continues to age. As of July 1, 2024, the median age in Canada was 40.3 years, slightly down from the previous year, while the average age remained unchanged at 41.6 years. These figures reflect the influence of younger, migrant populations, though long-term projections suggest that population aging is inevitable.
The number of Canadians aged 65 and older grew by 3.4% over the past year, driven largely by the aging baby boomer generation. This demographic group will continue to expand, with projections indicating that the 65+ population will grow at the fastest pace until 2073.
At the other end of the age spectrum, the number of Canadians under 15 years old grew by only 1.2%, a reflection of declining fertility rates. Despite the continued growth of the working-age population (15 to 64 years old), which increased by 3.2% from 2023 to 2024, the long-term demographic trajectory points toward a country with more seniors and fewer children.
For the first time in decades, the ratio of men to women in Canada has reached near parity. As of July 1, 2024, there were 20,638,255 men and 20,650,344 women in the country—a ratio of 99.9 men for every 100 women. This balance has been influenced by the influx of non-permanent residents, where men outnumber women, especially in sectors like agriculture that tend to attract male workers.
This ratio of men to women has remained relatively stable since the 1980s, but recent migration patterns have pushed it closer to equality, reflecting broader changes in Canada’s workforce and immigration demographics.
As Canada looks to the future, immigration will remain crucial for sustaining its population, economy, and social systems in the face of inevitable demographic challenges unless natural fertility is actively encouraged.