Immigration makes up the largest share of Canadian population, and is expected to grow
Statistics Canada has published a fresh analysis on immigration trends. In 2021, nearly one-quarter (23%) of the Canadian population have been landed immigrants or permanent residents of Canada. This was the most significant proportion since 1921 and the highest among the G7. By 2041, Statistics Canada projects immigrants to represent one-third (from 29.1 to 34.0%) of the population.
Immigration drives population growth
Today, immigration is the primary driver of population growth. The Canadian population grew by 5.2% from 2016 to 2021, topping every other G7 country by twice the rate; and nearly four-fifths of the growth is attributable to immigration. Beneath this trend is two factors:
The population of Canada continues to age. The number of seniors over 64 grows six times faster than children below 15. In the meantime, the number of retiring people is in all-time high in the history of Canadian census; as more than 1 in 5 people of working age are aged 55 to 64.
Fertility is below the population replacement level. The fertility rate has been declining since 2016 and just hit a record low of 1.40 children per woman in 2020.
Most people immigrate as skilled workers, either through Express Entry or PNPs
Within the 5 years between 2016 and 2021, immigration contributed to nearly 80% of the growth in Canada's labour force. Of all the economic immigration programs, more than a third were admitted under one of the skilled worker programs. Another one-third were admitted under the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), of which Manitoba was the most popular destination as 9 out of 10 PNP candidates immigrated to that province.
The largest proportions of new immigrants come from India, the Philippines, and China
India ranked first as the primary place of birth of new immigrants to Canada. Nearly 1 in 5 (18.6%) recent immigrants were born in India. It is followed by the Philippines (11.4%) and China (8.9%).
There are now over 450 mother tongues spoken in Canada, if you are looking to immigrate to Canada, please fill out one of our assessment forms or send in your enquiries and we will find the right program for you.
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