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On July 1, 2012, the population of Canada was estimated at 34,880,500, up 126,600 from April 1, 2012. This represents a growth of 0.4%, similar to the second-quarter 1  growth recorded in current years.

Net international migration in the second quarter of 2012 accounted for 73% of the country's population growth. During the second quarter of 2012, Canada's net international migration rose to 92,400 from 78,400 in the same quarter of 2011. That is the highest level ever posted for a second quarter during the period covered by the current demographic accounting system 2  . During the April to June 2012 period, Canada welcomed 72,900 immigrants, 5,200 more than in the same period the year before. The net non-permanent residents also rose substantially in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, going from 18,400 to 27,300.

Natural increase in the second quarter of 2012 was down by 2.8% compared to the same period in 2011.

Population growth in the provinces and territories

Preliminary estimates show that in the second quarter of 2012 all provinces and Yukon had positive population growth. Alberta (+0.8%) and Saskatchewan (+0.6%) were the only two provinces that had population growth above the national average (+0.4%), as well as Yukon with a growth rate of 0.9%. Conversely, Northwest Territories (-0.3%) and Nunavut (-0.2%) were the two jurisdictions in Canada where population declined in the second quarter of 2012.

Atlantic provinces

All four Atlantic provinces recorded population growth lower to that observed in the same period of 2011. Indeed, the population of these provinces remained fairly stable between April 1, 2012 and July 1, 2012. The main factor in the Atlantic provinces' population growth in the second quarter was net international migration. Preliminary estimates show that all Atlantic provinces posted net losses in interprovincial migration.

The population of Newfoundland and Labrador increased by 500 in the second quarter of 2012 to reach 512,700 on July 1, 2012. Net international migration (+600) was the province's main factor of population growth. This was the biggest gain in net international migration for Newfoundland and Labrador in a second quarter for the period covered by the current demographic accounting system.

Prince Edward Island's population grew to a total of 146,100 as of July 1, 2012. The growth was mainly due to net international migration (+600).

The population of Nova Scotia showed little variation in the second quarter of 2012, the smallest second-quarter growth since 2007. On July 1, 2012, Nova Scotia's population was estimated at 948,700. The main reason for the low growth was that the net gains in international migration (+700) were mostly offset by the losses in interprovincial migration (-400). The province has not had such large second-quarter net losses in interprovincial migration since 2008. Preliminary estimates indicate that Nova Scotia lost close to 700 people in migration exchanges with Alberta.

New Brunswick's population remained stable during the second quarter of 2012 to reach 756,000 on July 1, 2012. Net international migration (+900) was mainly responsible for the province's population growth, the highest for any quarter for the period covered by the current demographic accounting system. However, the province's gains in international migration were offset by negative net interprovincial migration (-500), with most of the net outflow (-400) going to Alberta.

Central Canada

In the second quarter of 2012, Quebec (+0.3%) and Ontario (+0.3%) experienced population growth similar to that observed in the same period of 2011.

On July 1, 2012, Quebec's population was estimated at 8,054,800, an increase of 27,800 from April 1, 2012. This rapid growth was primarily attributable to a net gain in international migration of 21,400, a gain fueled by the arrival of 15,900 immigrants. For both net international migration and immigration, such quarterly levels were never seen before for the period covered by the current demographic accounting system. In addition, the province also posted its lowest interprovincial migration net outflows (-1,000) for a second quarter since 2003.

Ontario's population grew by 41,400 (+0.3%) in the second quarter of 2012, reaching 13,505,900 on July 1, 2012. This rate of growth was the province's smallest for a second quarter since 1981. During the second quarter of 2012, Ontario's interprovincial migration losses (-4,400) were the largest for a second quarter since 1990. The deficit in this quarter was largely due to net losses in migration exchanges with Alberta (-3,700). Net international migration (+33,900) accounted for most of the province's population growth.

Western Canada

For a third consecutive quarter, Alberta posted the largest population growth of all provinces. Its population growth rate (+0.8%) was double that of the Canadian rate in the second quarter of 2012. Saskatchewan had the second-highest growth rate (+0.6%) among Canada's provinces. Both Manitoba and British Columbia had population growth rate similar to the national average (+0.4%).

The population of Manitoba was estimated at 1,267,000 as of July 1, 2012, an increase of 4,300 (+0.3%) from April 1, the lowest second-quarter growth since 2007. The slower growth was largely the result of second-quarter net losses in interprovincial migration (-1,300) in 2012, the largest for this quarter since 2006. During the second quarter of 2012, the main contributor to Manitoba's population growth was net international migration (+4,000), though it was the lowest level in a second quarter since 2008.

As of July 1, 2012, the population of Saskatchewan was estimated at 1,080,000, representing a growth of 0.6%. The growth stemmed mainly from net international migration (+4,000). These quarterly numbers in net international migration, as it is the case for population growth, were the highest ever recorded in Saskatchewan for the period covered by the current demographic accounting system. Still for the 2012 second quarter, the province also recorded net inflows of interprovincial migration of close to 1,400 people, which was more than double the level recorded in the second quarter of 2011.

Alberta's population grew by 0.8% or 31,200 in the second quarter of 2012 to a total of 3,873,700 as of July 1, 2012. It was the third consecutive quarter in which Alberta led all provinces in population growth rate. In the second quarter of 2012, Alberta had record net international migration, with a gain of 14,500 people. In fact, between April 1 and July 1, 2012, Alberta welcomed close to 10,400 immigrants. These were the highest numbers for both net international migration and immigration ever recorded for Alberta since 1971, beginning of the period covered by the current demographic accounting system. In addition, the growth of Alberta's population was boosted by net second-quarter interprovincial migration gains of 8,500 in 2012. Most of the province's net inflow in interprovincial migration came from Ontario (+3,700) and British Columbia (+1,800).

The population of British Columbia was estimated at 4,622,600 on July 1, 2012, following a growth of 13,400 (+0.3%) during the second quarter of 2012. The population growth rate was similar to what was observed for the same period in 2011. Gains in net international migration (+11,500) accounted for most of the increase. For the first time since 2003, British Columbia posted losses in its second-quarter interprovincial migration (-1,200). During the second quarter in 2012, the majority of the net outflow was to Alberta (-1,800).

The territories

According to the preliminary estimates, Yukon was the only territory with a population increase during the second quarter of 2012. The population of Yukon was estimated at 36,100 on July 1, 2012, up 0.9%. Both Northwest Territories and Nunavut posted population decline. The population of the Northwest Territories declined by 0.3% to an estimated 43,300 as of July 1, 2012. The population of Nunavut was estimated at 33,700 as of July 1, 2012, a population decline of 0.2% compared to what was estimated on April 1, 2012.

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