Analysis

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On October 1, 2010, Canada's population was estimated at 34,238,000. In the third quarter, Canada's population grew by 129,300 (0.4%). This is similar to the demographic growth observed in the third quarter of the previous two years. However, the vigorous pace of the estimated population growth in the July-to-September period of the last three years had not been seen in a third quarter since the late 1980s.

More than two thirds of the population growth between July 1 and September 30, 2010 was due to net international migration (87,400), which reached its highest level for a third quarter since 1988. Natural increase was slightly lower than in the third quarter of 2009.

Immigration remains strong

Canada received 84,200 immigrants in the third quarter of 2010, the highest level in any quarter since 1971. ¹  Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province that had fewer immigrants in the third quarter of 2010 than in the same period of the previous year. Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Manitoba posted their highest levels of immigration since 1971,¹ while New Brunswick recorded its highest levels since 1976.

The majority of the western provinces experienced higher demographic growth than Canada as a whole

Population growth remained strong in western Canada, as British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta all posted growth rates above the national average. However, Prince Edward Island experienced a higher rate of demographic variation (0.7%) than any other province or territory in the period from July to September 2010. Ontario's demographic growth also exceeded the national average. Only Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador had population declines during the period.

British Columbia posted the second-highest rate of demographic growth in Canada (0.5%) in the third quarter of 2010. Its population was estimated at 4,551,900 on October 1, 2010, an increase of 20,900 from July 1. The province received more than 13,200 immigrants in the third quarter, the highest level since the first quarter of 1997.

Saskatchewan's population grew by 0.4% to 1,049,700 on October 1, 2010. Net international migration accounted for more than 60% of that growth, as the province received nearly 2,200 newcomers, the highest third-quarter figure since 1971.¹ Saskatchewan's net interprovincial migration of about 200 in the third quarter was much lower than in the same period last year.

With an increase of 4,600, or 0.4%, Manitoba enjoyed one of its largest population gains since 1971.¹ The province's growth was largely due to its net international migration, which was estimated at about 4,100. Manitoba received nearly 4,700 immigrants in the third quarter, the highest level since 1971.¹

Net gain in interprovincial migration for Ontario in the third quarter

In the third quarter, Ontario's population was 13,268,600, up 57,900, its largest increase since the second quarter of 2002. For the first time since the first quarter of 2003, the province's net interprovincial migration was above zero (2,100).

Quebec's population grew by 24,800 (0.3%), to 7,932,100. It is a slightly slower pace of growth than in the third quarter of 2009. The province's net interprovincial migration was close to zero. With only a few exceptions, since the series began in 1971,¹ Quebec has usually experienced net outflows in its migration exchanges with the other provinces and territories. In addition, the province received 16,800 new immigrants, the highest level since 1971.¹

Prince Edward Island posts the highest demographic growth in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador the lowest

In the third quarter, Prince Edward Island recorded the nation's highest demographic growth, with an increase of 0.7%, or nearly 1,000, to 143,200. This is its largest gain since 1971.¹ Most of the increase was due to immigration, as the province received 1,200 newcomers. However, it lost population in its migration exchanges with the rest of the country, with net interprovincial migration of -400, the lowest level since the third quarter of 1989.

Between July and September, Nova Scotia's population grew by 1,400 (0.1%) to 943,900. While this is a smaller increase than in the same period in 2009, it is one of the largest third-quarter gains since 1999. The province posted net international migration of 1,900, its highest level since 1971.¹ At the same time, Nova Scotia lost nearly 900 in its exchanges with the other provinces and territories, its lowest net interprovincial migration since the third quarter of 2007.

New Brunswick's population attained 752,800 on October 1, 2010. The province had a demographic growth of 1,100 (0.1%) in the third quarter, its biggest gain since the second quarter of 1991. The growth was primarily due to immigration, as the province received more than 700 immigrants, the highest level since 1976. However, its net interprovincial migration was just below zero (-100), slightly lower than the level for the same period in 2009.

Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province that experienced a population decline in the third quarter, with a total loss of 500 (-0.1%). Its population was estimated at 509,200 on October 1, 2010. The province posted net interprovincial migration of -800, compared with a gain of almost 900 in the same period last year. Between July and September, its net international migration was nearly 300, slightly less than in the third quarter of 2009 but still one of the highest third-quarter levels since 1992.

In the North, only Nunavut saw population growth

Among the territories, only Nunavut recorded a slight demographic growth (0.1%) in the third quarter. Its population totalled 33,300 on October 1, 2010. Natural increase was nearly 200, the highest level since the third quarter of 1999.

In the third quarter, Yukon's population was 34,500, down 0.1%. While it posted its highest immigration level for a third quarter since 1971,¹ it lost population in its migration exchanges with the other territories and provinces.

Between July and September 2010, the population of the Northwest Territories remained almost unchanged at 43,800, as gains through natural increase were offset by losses in net interprovincial migration.