Canada's population estimates, first quarter 2025
Released: 2025-06-18
41,548,787
April 1, 2025
0.0% 
(quarterly change)
545,464
April 1, 2025
-0.0% 
(quarterly change)
180,029
April 1, 2025
0.4%
(quarterly change)
1,080,418
April 1, 2025
0.1%
(quarterly change)
859,839
April 1, 2025
0.1%
(quarterly change)
9,110,616
April 1, 2025
-0.0%
(quarterly change)
16,176,977
April 1, 2025
-0.0%
(quarterly change)
1,507,330
April 1, 2025
0.2%
(quarterly change)
1,253,569
April 1, 2025
0.2%
(quarterly change)
4,980,659
April 1, 2025
0.4%
(quarterly change)
5,719,961
April 1, 2025
-0.0%
(quarterly change)
47,111
April 1, 2025
-0.0%
(quarterly change)
45,242
April 1, 2025
0.4%
(quarterly change)
41,572
April 1, 2025
0.4%
(quarterly change)
Almost no increase in the population size of Canada during the first quarter of 2025
From January 1 to April 1, 2025, the population of Canada increased by 20,107 people (+0.0%) to reach 41,548,787 people. This was the smallest quarterly growth since the third quarter of 2020, when the population decreased by 1,232 people (-0.0%) in the wake of border restrictions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first quarter of 2025 (+0.0%) marked the sixth consecutive quarter of slower population growth (Infographic 1) following announcements by the federal government in 2024 that it would lower the levels of both temporary and permanent immigration. This was the second-slowest quarterly growth rate in Canada since comparable records began (first quarter of 1946), behind only the third quarter of 2020 (-0.0%) and tied with the fourth quarter of 2014 (+0.0%).
Infographic 1
Quarterly population growth rate, Canada, 2014 to 2025
The growth in the first quarter of 2025 was slower than what is typically seen in a first quarter. For example, from the first quarter of 2001 to the first quarter of 2024, population growth ranged from an increase of 0.1% in 2015 to a gain of 0.6% in 2024, averaging 0.3% growth over this period.
Even with the reductions starting in 2024, international migration accounted for all of the population growth in the first quarter of 2025. This was because natural increase (births minus deaths) was negative (-5,628), meaning that there were more deaths than births. This is consistent with an aging population, a decreasing fertility rate and the higher numbers of deaths that typically occur during the winter months. Natural increase has been negative in every first quarter since 2022.
Population edges down in four provinces and one territory
The population size decreased slightly in Newfoundland and Labrador (-115, -0.0%), Quebec (-1,013, -0.0%), Ontario (-5,664, -0.0%), British Columbia (-2,357, -0.0%) and Yukon (-15, -0.0%) during the first quarter of 2025.
While small compared to the size of each province, these were the largest quarterly losses in population for both Ontario and British Columbia since comparable records began (third quarter of 1951). Over this same period, the populations of both provinces have decreased in only three quarters.
Although slight population declines were observed in the three largest provinces of the country during the first quarter of 2025, population growth was positive in six provinces and two territories. Prince Edward Island (+749), Alberta (+20,562), the Northwest Territories (+168) and Nunavut (+158) saw the fastest growth nationally, all increasing at a rate of 0.4%.
Largest reduction in non-permanent residents since the period of border restrictions related to the pandemic
On April 1, 2025, there were 2,959,825 non-permanent residents in Canada, accounting for 7.1% of the total population. This was down from a peak of 7.4% of the population on October 1, 2024. The number of non-permanent residents has dropped by 61,111 since January 1, 2025.
The reduction in non-permanent residents in the first quarter was the largest decrease, apart from the third quarter of 2020 (-67,698), when border restrictions were in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. The decrease in the number of non-permanent residents in the country is counter to the typical seasonal pattern of an increase in the first quarter.
The largest decrease in non-permanent residents in the first quarter of 2025 came from people holding only a study permit (-53,669). Most of this decline occurred in Ontario (-30,160) and British Columbia (-11,742), which are the provinces with the highest numbers of study permit holders.
The number of people holding only a work permit remained at a high level (1,453,481) after edging down slightly during the first quarter (-5,114). Conversely, the number of asylum claimants, protected persons and related groups in the country increased for the 13th consecutive quarter, reaching a record high of 470,029 (+12,744) on April 1, 2025.
Every province and Yukon had fewer non-permanent residents on April 1, 2025, than on January 1, 2025, while the Northwest Territories (+13) and Nunavut (+9) each saw a slight increase.
Immigration remains high, but lower than in recent years
Canada admitted 104,256 immigrants in the first quarter of 2025. This was the smallest number admitted in a first quarter in four years and reflects a lower total permanent immigration target for 2025. However, prior to 2022, Canada had never welcomed more than 86,246 immigrants in a first quarter (which occurred in the first quarter of 2016).
Every province and territory except for Newfoundland and Labrador (+103), the Northwest Territories (+7), and Nunavut (+13) admitted fewer immigrants in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter in 2024.
To better visualize recent trends in international migration, two new dashboards are being released today. Please consult Quarterly estimates of international migration components, provinces and territories: Interactive dashboard and Quarterly estimates of the number of non-permanent residents by type, provinces and territories: Interactive dashboard.
Differences between data on non-permanent residents from Statistics Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Statistics Canada collaborates closely with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and other federal departments to estimate the number of non-permanent residents living in Canada. The demographic estimates from Statistics Canada are updated on an ongoing basis, as new or revised data become available from its partners. Caution should be exercised when comparing data on non-permanent residents from Statistics Canada's Demographic Estimates Program with temporary residents and asylum claimants from IRCC due to the different objectives of the two organizations.
Please see Non-permanent residents data at Statistics Canada, Statistics on non-permanent residents at Statistics Canada, and How does Statistics Canada estimate the number of non-permanent residents?. These products define non-permanent resident data at Statistics Canada and the various data sources available to users.
Alberta gains population from other provinces and territories for the 11th consecutive quarter
In Canada, there were fewer interprovincial migrants (81,231) in the first quarter of 2025 than in the same quarter in the previous three years. This was the lowest number in a first quarter since 2021 (69,630).
Alberta (+7,176) reported the largest net gain from interprovincial migration among the provinces for the 11th consecutive quarter in the first quarter of 2025, although this net gain was smaller than during the first quarters of 2024 (+10,326) and 2023 (+9,772). Manitoba (+106) had its first quarterly net gain from interprovincial migration since the first quarter of 2004 (+7), while Saskatchewan (-152) saw its smallest net loss since the third quarter of 2013 (-76).
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Note to readers
The demographic estimates for the first quarter of 2025 released today are considered preliminary and will be updated using the standard procedure followed by Statistics Canada for decades. They are based on 2021 Census counts, adjusted for census net undercoverage and incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements. To these counts, the population growth estimates for the period from May 11, 2021, to the date of the estimate are added.
Canada's population clock (real-time model)
Canada's population clock (real-time model) was updated today with the most recent data from quarterly population estimates released by Statistics Canada.
Canada's population clock is an interactive learning tool 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.
Definitions
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). For the sake of brevity, the terms growth, population growth and population growth rate have the same meaning.
Population growth or total growth in Canada is equal to natural increase (births minus deaths) plus international migratory increase (immigrants plus net non-permanent residents minus net emigration). At the provincial and territorial level, total population growth also includes interprovincial migratory increase.
Net international migration 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, then subtracting emigrants.
An immigrant refers to a person who is a permanent resident or a landed immigrant. Such a person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Persons who are born abroad to a Canadian parent are not immigrants but are included in the returning emigrant component. For Statistics Canada's Demographic Estimates Program, the terms immigrant, landed immigrant and permanent resident refer to the same concept.
Non-permanent resident refers to a person from another country with a usual place of residence in Canada and who has a work or study permit, or who has claimed refugee status (asylum claimants, protected persons and related groups). Family members living with work or study permit holders are also included unless these family members are already Canadian citizens, landed immigrants (permanent residents) or non-permanent residents themselves. For Statistics Canada's Demographic Estimates Program, the terms non-permanent resident and temporary immigrant refer to the same concept. Caution should be exercised when comparing data on non-permanent residents from Statistics Canada's Demographic Estimates Program with temporary residents and asylum claimants from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) due to the different objectives of the two data sources.
Permit holders and their family members are non-permanent residents who are not asylum claimants, protected persons and related groups but who hold a permit (for work, study or temporary residence). This classification also includes their family members who are not Canadian citizens, landed immigrants (permanent residents) or non-permanent residents themselves.
Persons who claimed refugee status include asylum claimants, protected persons and related groups. Separate estimates for asylum claimants, protected persons and related groups are not available. Asylum claimants, protected persons and related groups are defined as:
- Asylum claimant refers to a foreign national who has made a refugee claim while in Canada on a temporary basis and whose claim is pending decision.
- Protected person refers to a person who has made a claim in Canada and received a positive decision. For population estimates, protected persons leave this population if they obtain permanent residence.
- Related groups include those who received a negative decision or withdrew or abandoned their claim and have not yet regularized their status or departed Canada.
Interprovincial migration represents all movement from one province or territory to another involving a change in the usual place of residence. A person who takes up residence in another province or territory is an out-migrant with reference to the province or territory of origin and an in-migrant with reference to the province or territory of destination.
Acknowledgements
The Demographic Estimates Program of Statistics Canada is grateful for the ongoing partnership with IRCC, which greatly contributes to the accuracy of the estimations of immigrants and non-permanent residents.
Products
The product "Quarterly demographic estimates, provinces and territories: Interactive dashboard" (71-607-X) is available.
The product "Quarterly estimates of international migration components, provinces and territories: Interactive dashboard" (71-607-X) is also available.
The product "Quarterly estimates of the number of non-permanent residents by type, provinces and territories: Interactive dashboard" (71-607-X) is also available.
The product "Annual demographic estimates, rural and small town and functional urban areas: Interactive dashboard" (71-607-X) is also available.
The product "Canada's population clock (real-time model)" (71-607-X) is also available.
The product "How does Statistics Canada estimate the number of non-permanent residents?" (11-629-X) is also available.
The Population and demography statistics and Older adults and population aging statistics portals are also 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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