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Canada's population estimates, fourth quarter 2017

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Released: 2018-03-22

Quarterly population estimate — Canada

36,963,854

January 1, 2018

0.2% increase

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — N.L.

527,613

January 1, 2018

-0.2% decrease

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — P.E.I.

152,768

January 1, 2018

-0.0% decrease

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — N.S.

957,470

January 1, 2018

-0.0% decrease

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — N.B.

760,744

January 1, 2018

-0.0% decrease

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — Que.

8,439,925

January 1, 2018

0.2% increase

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — Ont.

14,318,750

January 1, 2018

0.3% increase

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — Man.

1,346,993

January 1, 2018

0.3% increase

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — Sask.

1,169,752

January 1, 2018

0.1% increase

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — Alta.

4,318,772

January 1, 2018

0.3% increase

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — B.C.

4,849,442

January 1, 2018

0.2% increase

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — Y.T.

38,825

January 1, 2018

0.4% increase

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — N.W.T.

44,597

January 1, 2018

-0.3% decrease

(quarterly change)

Quarterly population estimate — Nvt.

38,203

January 1, 2018

-0.1% decrease

(quarterly change)

Canada's population continues to grow at a steady pace

According to preliminary estimates, Canada's population was 36,963,854 on January 1, 2018, up 78,805 from October 1, 2017. In the fourth quarter, Canada's population growth rate was 0.2%.

International migration is the main source of population growth

Between October 1, 2017, and January 1, 2018, international migratory increase was 55,048, an uncommonly high level for a fourth quarter. Natural increase in the fourth quarter of 2017 was 23,757, or the difference between 95,945 births and 72,188 deaths.

Uneven growth in the provinces and territories

Except in the Atlantic provinces, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the population grew in the other provinces and in Yukon in the fourth quarter. Population growth exceeded the national average of 0.2% in Yukon (+0.4%) and in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta (+0.3% each). Alberta posted slight gains in its migratory exchanges with the other provinces and territories (+302 persons) for the second quarter in a row, following two years of consecutive losses.

  Note to readers

The estimates released today are based on 2011 Census counts adjusted for census net undercoverage and incompletely enumerated Indian reserves, to which is added the estimated population growth for the period from May 10, 2011 to the estimate date.

These estimates are not to be confused with the 2016 Census population counts that were released on February 8, 2017. The population estimates for Canada, the provinces and territories based on 2016 Census population counts, adjusted for census net undercoverage and incompletely enumerated Indian reserves, will be released in September 2018 for the entire population.

For the purpose of calculating rates, the denominator is the average population during the period (the average of the start-of-period and end-of-period populations). These are quarterly rates. For the sake of brevity, the terms "growth," "population growth," and "population growth rate" share the same meaning, a quarterly population growth rate.

Next release

Canada's population estimates for the first quarter of 2018 will be released on June 14.

Definitions

Natural increase is the difference between the number of births and deaths.

Net international migration basically refers to the total number of moves between Canada and abroad that result in a change in the usual place of residence. It is calculated by adding immigrants, returning emigrants and net non-permanent residents, and by subtracting emigrants and net temporary emigration.

The Atlantic provinces include Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Products

The Quarterly Demographic Estimates, Vol. 31, no. 4 (Catalogue number91-002-X) publication is now available.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).

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