Analysis

View the most recent version.

On January 1, 2009, Canada’s population was estimated at 33,504,700, up 63,400 from October 1, 2008.

Canada's population grew by 0.19% during the last three months of 2008, the highest growth for a fourth quarter since 1992.

Considering only fourth quarters, the growth rate of the Canadian population rose for a fifth consecutive year. It was 0.12% in 2004.

Net international migration on the rise

The increased rate of population growth in the country over the last three months of 2008 was due to an increase in net international migration which, at 35,700, reached a peak not seen for a fourth quarter since 1988.

In the last quarter of 2008, Canada received 53,500 immigrants, a slight decrease from the year before (55,600). It is in fact the lowest immigration for a fourth quarter since 2004.

As is usually the case during a fourth quarter, the number of non-permanent residents in the country decreased during the last three months of 2008. The number of permits issued during this period is generally lower than in the rest of the year.

However, the decrease in the number of non-permanent residents in the last quarter of 2008 was the lowest to be recorded for a fourth quarter since 1987. For some provinces, particularly in the west of the country, net non-permanent residents were even positive. The fourth quarter of 2008 continues an upward trend that began a few quarters ago.

Relatively stable natural increase

While international migration increased, Canada's natural increase for the last three months of 2008 decreased slightly compared to the same quarter in the previous year.

The numbers of births and deaths both increased, but the increase of deaths was slightly greater. The number of births in the fourth quarter of 2008 was estimated at 90,200, up from the previous year (88,600). The number of deaths was estimated at 62,500, also up from the previous year (60,300).

Considering only fourth quarters, the number of births has been rising since 2001. This increase occurred in several provinces, with Quebec showing the greatest increase. The number of births in Quebec in the fourth quarter of 2008 increased 3.9% compared to the previous year during the same period. This growth in Canada was 1.8% for the same period.

Stronger population growth in the west

All the provinces and territories, with the exception of Prince Edward Island and Northwest Territories, had an increase in population in the last three months of 2008.

Population growth remained greater in the west of the country. The four provinces west of Ontario all posted greater growth than the country.

The growth in international migration was greatest in the west. The four provinces west of Ontario experienced record net international migration for a fourth quarter. Immigration and the rising number of non-permanent residents were at levels rarely, if ever, recorded in the past. The fourth quarter of 2008 continued a trend that began a few quarters ago.

Alberta: leading the way

For a fifth quarter in a row, Alberta led the provinces in population growth (0.60%). In the fourth quarter of 2008, the province posted the largest increase in non-permanent residents in Canada. Alberta led the country on this point for the ninth consecutive quarter. In addition, the province also received 5,200 immigrants during the period, a level not seen in a fourth quarter since 1981.

In addition to international migration, growth in Alberta was also based on an increase in its net interprovincial migration. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the province had a net interprovincial migration of 6,200 people. This amount was 900 during the fourth quarter of 2007.

The increased gains in Alberta are mainly attributable to a marked reduction in departures to the neighbouring provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The number of people from Ontario increased significantly in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in the previous year.

With a growth of 0.33%, British Columbia experienced its greatest growth for a fourth quarter since 1996, a period marked by the end of the population boom fuelled in particular by immigration from Hong Kong. Because of gains from international migration, population growth in the province over the last three months of 2008 was higher than the same period in the previous year, despite the decline in its interprovincial migration gains.

International migration has given Saskatchewan its highest growth for a fourth quarter since 1975. The province recorded peaks in the areas of immigration and the increased number of non-permanent residents for a fourth quarter. As for interprovincial migration in the province, it has remained positive, albeit lower than last year for the same period.

With the highest immigration rate in the country, Manitoba posted its strongest population growth for a fourth quarter since 1984. The number of new immigrants arriving in the fourth quarter set a new record. The province led the country in immigration for the fourth time in the last eight quarters.

Moderate growth for Ontario

For a fifth consecutive quarter, Ontario's population grew less rapidly than that of the country. In the last three months of 2008, the province experienced its highest interprovincial migration net losses for a fourth quarter since 1975. Among other things, the number of people leaving for Alberta greatly increased compared to the same period in the previous year.

The province also posted its lowest rate of immigration for a fourth quarter since 1998. Ontario's appeal decreases from year to year. In the last three months of 2008, Ontario received a little less than 45% of new immigrants in the country, the lowest proportion in the province since 1981 for a fourth quarter.

Quebec: the increase in births continues

In the last three months of 2008, Quebec experienced a slightly smaller population growth compared to the previous year, mainly because of a decline in international migration.

The number of births continues to rise in Quebec. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the province had a 3.9% increase in births compared to the same period in the previous year. An increase in the number of births can also be seen in some other provinces, particularly in the west, but not on the scale seen in Quebec.

Atlantic region: in growth everywhere except in Prince Edward Island

In the last quarter of 2008, all the Atlantic provinces posted population growth, with the exception of Prince Edward Island.

New Brunswick experienced its highest population growth for a fourth quarter since 1991. This is the result of a combined increase in net interprovincial and international migration compared to the same quarter in the previous year. The net non-permanent residents observed in the last three months of 2008 had been seen only once in the past for a fourth quarter, in 1999.

The population of Nova Scotia grew for a seventh consecutive quarter because mainly of an increase in its international migration gains. A balance of this magnitude has not been seen since 1979. The province also posted its first interprovincial migration gains after a deficit of two quarters.

The population of Newfoundland and Labrador grew for a third quarter in a row. In the last three months of 2008, interprovincial migration has been the main driver of population growth in the province.

Posting its largest interprovincial migration since the third quarter of 1980, Prince Edward Island had its first quarterly deficit since the fourth quarter of 2006.

In the north

In the last three months of 2008, the Yukon posted the highest population growth among the territories. This marks a seventh consecutive quarter of population growth for this territory. Yukon had the highest growth in the north for the third time in the last four quarters.

Northwest Territories is again the only territory to show a population decrease, mainly because of its negative net interprovincial migration. This marks a fourth consecutive quarterly with net losses in interprovincial migration deficit for this territory.

Nunavut posted a slight population growth in spite of interprovincial migration losses. This is the sixth quarter in a row for which the territory has a negative net interprovincial migration.

The 2008 Demographic Year

In 2008, Canada's population grew by 401,600 people, or 1.2%, the strongest annual growth since 1992.

Close to 70% of the country's population growth was attributed to international migration. With net migration at 275,600, Canada recorded its strongest net international migration since 1971, the year when the current demographic accounting system was implemented. Also to be noted is that the country's net international migration has exceeded 200,000 every year since 2001.

The number of non-permanent residents is up sharply in Canada. The increase of 71,100 recorded in 2008 is the sharpest since 1988.

Canada accepted 247,200 immigrants in 2008, a number slightly higher than the annual average of 240,200 observed since the beginning of the millennium. The number of immigrants accepted each year since 2000 has never been under the 200,000 level.

All of Canada's provinces and territories registered population growth, with the exception of the Northwest Territories. The growth in international migration had an impact throughout Canada. Records in terms of immigration and the number of non-permanent residents were witnessed just about everywhere in Canada in 2008.

Population growth remained strongest in the West, with Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon surpassing the national growth rate.

Alberta led the way, with a 2.6% growth, nearing the oil boom figures recorded in 2005 and 2006. While Alberta's growth was at that time a question of interprovincial migration, international migration was the main factor in its 2008 growth.

Alberta's population growth is also the result of a resurgence of its interprovincial migration. In 2008, the province's net gains in interprovincial migration increased to 20,600 from 9,900 in 2007.

The Atlantic Provinces all registered population growth in 2008, for the first time since 1992. Newfoundland and Labrador's first year of population growth since then was due in particular to its first positive net interprovincial migration since 1975.

With its sharpest demographic growth since 1983, Prince Edward Island is the only province east of Ontario to record a growth surpassing the national rate. This growth is due in particular to a decrease in its interprovincial migration losses and an increase in its net international migration.

For a third consecutive year, Ontario's population grew less rapidly than that of Canada. Immigration to Ontario has decreased for some years, and since 2005, the province has lost over 10,000 people annually through its interprovincial exchanges.

The situation is different in Québec, where the population increased by more than 66,000 in 2008, the sharpest annual increase since 1990. The province's population growth was due in particular to an increase in natural growth and a net international migration that reached new heights in 2008.

In the North, Yukon registered the sharpest population growth in 2008. It was the only territory to have registered positive net interprovincial migration. Nunavut continued to grow but this growth was its weakest in its young history, due in particular to record interprovincial migration losses. The Northwest Territories was the only territory to record a population decline in 2008, its interprovincial migration losses being the highest since 1987.