Analysis

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During the second quarter of 2010, Canada’s population grew by 120,800 to reach an estimated 34,108,800 as of July 1, 2010. This represents a growth of 0.36%, similar to what was recorded for the second quarter in 2009.

More than 70% of Canada’s increase in population was driven by net gains in international migration (84,800) for the second quarter 2010. When compared to the same period in 2009, both net international migration and natural increase had similar values.

Immigration: Driver of growth in all provinces

Over the second quarter 2010, Canada received 80,700 immigrants. This was the highest level of immigrants observed for a quarter since 1971, the year the current record-keeping system was introduced. In comparison, Canada received 69,700 immigrants during the same period in 2009.

Most provinces and territories (with the exception of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories), received more immigrants in the second quarter of 2010 than in the same period in 2009. Digits never observed since 1971 were recorded in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. While the amount of immigrants in Ontario had not been this high since the third quarter of 2005, British Columbia received 12,800 immigrants, a level not observed since the second quarter of 1997.

In contrast, the net increase in non-permanent residents reached 13,100. This number is below what was observed in the second quarter of years 2006 to 2009. Almost every province and territory showed lower net inflows of non-permanent residents, compared to the second quarter of 2009. Net outflows were even observed in Alberta and British Columbia.

Population growth is higher in the Prairie provinces

During April to June 2010, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba posted the highest population growth rates amongst the provinces. Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Northwest Territories and Nunavut also recorded higher growth than that of the rest of the country.

Alberta was the fastest growing province (0.50%) during the second quarter of 2010. As of July 1, 2010, its population was estimated at 3,720,900. Alberta's growth was mainly driven by both its natural increase (8,400) and net international migration (7,300). Alberta’s natural increase explained close to half (45.5%) of its overall growth. This was Alberta’s highest natural increase since the third quarter of 1983.

Saskatchewan's population grew by 0.47% to reach an estimated 1,045,600 as of July 1, 2010. This was the province’s highest growth rate for a second quarter since 1975. Close to half of this growth was due to international migration (2,400).

Manitoba's population grew by 5,100, or 0.42%, during the second quarter of 2010 to reach an estimated 1,235,400. Net international migration (4,400) was the province’s main factor of population growth and was similar to what was observed during the second quarter of 2009.

British Columbia was the only province west of Quebec to increase at a rate lower than that of the nation overall. The population of the province grew by 15,500 (0.34%) during the second quarter, reaching an estimated 4,531,000. This is the province’s lowest growth for a second quarter since 2005. While its net inflows of international migration stayed strong (10,100), the province posted its lowest second-quarter net inflows of interprovincial migration (2,000) since 2003.

Central Canada

In the second quarter, Ontario’s population grew by around 50,000, reaching an estimated 13,210,700 people as of July 1, 2010. This 0.38% growth was mainly explained by net inflows of international migration (39,500). The net inflows of international migration were Ontario’s highest for a second-quarter since 2005.

Quebec’s estimated population for the second quarter increased by 24,500 (0.31%), reaching an estimated 7,907,400. Net inflows of international immigration (18,500) continue to be the main factor of the province’s growth. In the second quarter, the province received more than 14,000 immigrants, a quarterly level only observed twice since 1971.

The Atlantic provinces

Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province with a population decrease in the second quarter 2010. The province lost more than 300 people (-0.07%) and its population was estimated at 509,700. The province’s decrease was mainly due to net outflows of interprovincial migration (-500), the first to be recorded since the second quarter of 2008. At the same period in 2009, the province recorded net inflows of interprovincial migration of close to 1,000 people.

In contrast, Prince Edward Island was the fastest growing province in the Atlantic region. During the second quarter Prince Edward Island’s population grew by nearly 600 persons (0.40%) to reach 142,300. The main factor of the province’s growth was net international migration (700). In fact, Prince Edward Island posted the highest international migration rate among all Canadian provinces, with an annualized rate of 19.0 per thousand.

During the course of the second quarter 2010, Nova Scotia's population grew 0.12% and was estimated at 942,500. More than 80% of the province’s increase was driven by net inflows of international migration (900). Nova Scotia also had its first net inflows of interprovincial migration (100) in a second quarter since 2003.

From April to June 2010, New Brunswick’s population increased by 800 (0.11%) to reach an estimated 751,800. This was the province’s highest second quarter rate of increase since 1992. This growth was mainly attributable to net inflows of international migration (500) which accounted for more than 60% of the increase in the province’s population. New Brunswick’s population has been in constant growth since the first quarter of 2007.

Territories: Different factors contributed to their population growth

Nunavut’s population grew by more than 300 (1.01%) to 33,200. This is the highest increase rate in the country. The territory’s growth relied on both strong natural increase and net interprovincial migration.

The population of Yukon increased by more than 300 (0.90%) to 34,500. Yukon's growth, its highest since the second quarter since 2003, stemmed primarily from net international migration.

The demographic increase of the Northwest Territories (0.05%) was barely positive over the second quarter 2010. The territory’s strong natural increase offset net outflows in interprovincial migration.