Canada's population estimates, third quarter 2021
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Released: 2021-12-16
38,436,447
October 1, 2021
0.5% 
(quarterly change)
521,758
October 1, 2021
0.2%
(quarterly change)
165,936
October 1, 2021
1.0%
(quarterly change)
998,832
October 1, 2021
0.7%
(quarterly change)
794,300
October 1, 2021
0.6%
(quarterly change)
8,631,147
October 1, 2021
0.3%
(quarterly change)
14,915,270
October 1, 2021
0.6%
(quarterly change)
1,386,333
October 1, 2021
0.2%
(quarterly change)
1,180,867
October 1, 2021
0.1%
(quarterly change)
4,464,170
October 1, 2021
0.5%
(quarterly change)
5,249,635
October 1, 2021
0.7%
(quarterly change)
43,095
October 1, 2021
0.3%
(quarterly change)
45,515
October 1, 2021
0.0%
(quarterly change)
39,589
October 1, 2021
0.5%
(quarterly change)
Population growth in Canada back to pre-pandemic levels
The population in Canada was estimated at 38,436,447 on October 1, 2021, an increase of 190,339 persons (+0.5%) from July 1, 2021. This is the second highest quarterly growth seen in Canada after the third quarter of 2019 (+210,169; +0.6%) and shows a return to pre-pandemic levels of growth.
Immigration reaches record high
Canada welcomed 122,748 immigrants from July to September 2021, the highest number in any quarter since 1946 (period with comparable data) and more than three times higher than the same period a year earlier (40,116).
This increase was mainly the result of temporary residents already in Canada becoming permanent residents and the easing of COVID-19-related border restrictions allowing approved immigrants to now come to Canada. Over the third quarter of 2021, Canada also started to welcome people from Afghanistan following the recent crisis in their country.
Nova Scotia on its way to one million people
Close to one million people (998,832) were estimated to be living in Nova Scotia on October 1, 2021. Canada's population clock (real-time model) now shows that Nova Scotia has more than one million people who call this province home. This assumes that growth has continued to follow recent trends since October 1. Nova Scotia's population growth in the third quarter of 2021 reached a record level due to both international and interprovincial migration.
Did you know?
Canada's population clock (real-time model) is an interactive model showing population growth in real time aiming to give Canadians a sense of the pace of the country's population renewal. The population estimates and census counts remain the measures used by various government programs.
Note to readers
The estimates released today are based on 2016 Census counts adjusted for census net undercoverage and incompletely enumerated Indian reserves, to which are added the population growth estimates for the period from May 10, 2016, to the date of the estimate. These estimates are not to be confused with the 2021 Census population counts, which will be released on February 9, 2022.
These are preliminary data that will be revised over the coming year.
Products
Please note that the full dataset for this release is available upon request by contacting statcan.demography-demographie.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.
The product Quarterly demographic estimates, provinces and territories: Interactive dashboard (71-607-X) is available.
The product Canada's population clock (real-time model) (71-607-X) is 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; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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