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Canada’s population estimated at 35.9 million

According to preliminary estimates, Canada’s population was estimated at 35,851,800 on July 1, 2015, up 97,000 from April 1, 2015. In the second quarter of 2015, Canada’s population growth rate ¹  was 0.3%, similar to the average rate observed for this quarter since 1995.

International immigration is the main source of population growth

Population growth at the national level is based on two factors—natural increase ²  and net international migration ³ —while provincial and territorial population estimates also factor in interprovincial migration. In the second quarter of 2015, natural increase was 33,000, or the difference between 98,400 births and 65,500 deaths based on preliminary estimates. During the same period, net international migration was 64,000, down 27.7% over the second quarter of 2014 (+88,600). Canada welcomed 71,100 immigrants in the second quarter of 2015, while the number of non-permanent residents (NPR) rose by 600. For the same quarter in 2014, the immigration level was 78,300, while the increase in the number of non-permanent residents was estimated at 17,800. Finally, the number of persons who left the country to settle abroad, or the emigration level, ⁴  was 7,600 in the second quarter of 2015, similar to the figure from the same quarter in 2014 (+7,500).

Population growth is greater in Alberta, Yukon and Nunavut

Population growth ⁵  in the second quarter was above the national average (+0.3%) in Alberta (+0.5%), Yukon (+1.0%) and Nunavut (+1.0%). In regions that experienced population growth in the second quarter last year saw, smaller growth rate were recorded this quarter, especially in Alberta (from +0.8% to +0.5%) and the Northwest Territories (from +0.2% to -0.1%). The population growth rate increased only in Nunavut (from +0.5% to +1.0%), which posted its strongest growth for a second quarter since 2002.

International migration is a key driver of growth in several provinces

In the second quarter of 2015, population growth was mainly attributable to net international migration across the country, except in Alberta and the territories. The international migration rate was above the national average (+0.2%) in four provinces or territories: Prince Edward Island (+0.4%), Manitoba (+0.3%), Saskatchewan (+0.3%) and Yukon (+0.3%). In general, natural increase in the second quarter was lower in the Atlantic provinces and higher than the national level (+0.1 %) in the territories (between +0.2% and +0.5%) and in Alberta (+0.2%). In Canada, Nunavut had the strongest natural increase (+0.5%). According to preliminary estimates, net interprovincial migration was significantly positive in only three regions: Nunavut (+0.6%), Yukon (+0.5%) and Alberta (+0.2%).