Portrait of Canadian emigration

Release date: March 18, 2026
More information PDF version
Infographic: Portrait of Canadian emigration
Description: Portrait of Canadian emigration

Although Canada is known as a country of immigration, thousands of Canadians move abroad every year. Here’s a statistical portrait of the Canadian emigrant population.Note 1

  • In 2021, the majority of Canadian emigrants were between 20 and 44 years of age
Table 1
Table summary
The information is grouped by Age group (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Age group Emigrant population Canadian population
0 to 19 years 2.2% 22.2%
20 to 44 years 67.0% 31.8%
45 to 64 years 23.4% 27.5%
65 years and over 7.3% 18.6%
  • Immigrants are more likely to emigrate
    In 2021, they accounted for less than a quarter of the total Canadian population, but almost two-thirds of people who emigrated from Canada
Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2 , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  Emigrant population Canadian population
Non-immigrants 38.8% 76.4%
Immigrants 61.2% 23.6%
  • The emigrant population had a higher level of education than the total Canadian population: in 2021, close to 70% of emigrants had at least a university degree
Table 3
Table summary
The information is grouped by Highest level of education (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Highest level of education Emigrant population Canadian population
High school diploma or less 17.2% 43.2%
College or trades diploma 12.9% 27.8%
Undergraduate degree 38.7% 20.1%
Master’s degree or higher 31.1% 8.9%
  • Emigrants were more likely to work in applied science or finance
Table 4
Table summary
The information is grouped by Occupational category (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Occupational category Emigrant population Canadian population
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations 22.9% 7.9%
Business, finance and administration 21.2% 17.4%
Education, law and social, community and government services 15.3% 12.4%
Sales and service 13.0% 25.0%
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations 8.0% 17.2%
OtherNote 2 19.6% 20.1%
  • In 2020, the United States was the country of residence of the majority (61.4%) of Canadians by birth living abroadNote 3

Country of residence of Canadians by birth living abroad

Table 5
Table summary
The information is grouped by Country (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Country Number Percentage
United States 793,897 61.4%
United Kingdom 100,538 7.8%
Australia 58,843 4.6%
France 29,442 2.3%
Italy 25,202 2.0%
Rest of the world 282,387 21.9%
Total 1,292,329 100.0%

Note: The demographic and employment information in this infographic is taken from a linkage between 2021 Census data and tax data. The information on the countries emigrants move to comes from the United Nations’ International Migrant Stock 2020 report.

Sources: Statistics Canada, 2021 T1 Family File and Census of Population, 2021; United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2020.

More information

Note of appreciation

Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill.

Standards of service to the public

Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients.

Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2026

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

Date modified: