Quarterly Demographic Estimates
January to March 2021

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Release date: June 17, 2021

Highlights

First quarter of 2021

• Canada’s population was estimated at 38,131,104 on April 1, 2021, an increase of 82,366 (+0.2%) from January 1, 2021. This was the same level of growth as was seen in the first quarter of 2020 (+80,577, +0.2%). March 2020 saw the first COVID-19 related death in Canada as well as the implementation of travel and border restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. As such, the population growth in the first quarter of 2020 had some minor effects from COVID-19 and marked the beginning of the pandemic in Canada.
• The population increased in all provinces and territories except for Newfoundland and Labrador (-0.0%) and the Northwest Territories (-0.3%).
• Many provinces and territories had a higher rate of population growth in the first quarter of 2021 than in the first quarter of 2020 (except Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut), which may indicate some recovery following the slower growth seen in 2020.
• The population growth rate in Alberta (+0.2%) was the lowest first quarter growth in this province since 1984, mainly due to increased deaths, fewer immigrants, and interprovincial migration losses.
• Deaths in the first quarter (83,379) were at the highest level in any quarter since comparable records began (third quarter of 1971) due to both an aging population as well as the ongoing pandemic. The Public Health Agency of Canada reported that 7,308 deaths were due to COVID-19 during the first three months of 2021 (8.8% of total deaths).
• Due to the record high number of deaths and stable births (89,758), natural increase (births minus deaths, +6,379) dropped to its lowest level in any quarter since at least the third quarter of 1971.
• With the low level of natural increase, international migration accounted for a record 92.3% of population growth in the first quarter of 2021, the highest for any quarter since comparable records have been available.
• Canada welcomed 70,473 immigrants in the first quarter of 2021, which was back to pre-pandemic levels and the highest number since the pandemic began (first quarter of 2020). The number of immigrants was higher than in the first quarters of 2020 (69,162) and 2019 (65,957), but lower than in 2018 (80,007).
• The net increase of non-permanent residents (+14,989) was also the highest since the pandemic began, and was higher than in the first quarter of 2020 (+6,547). This was mainly due to increased numbers of work permit holders. All provinces welcomed more non-permanent residents than those who left, except for Quebec (-2,023).
• The number of emigrants (9,626) was close to the level seen in the first quarter of 2020 (13.3% lower).
• The number of people who moved to another province or territory in the first quarter of 2021 (73,051) returned to pre-pandemic levels, close to the number seen in the first quarter of 2020 (down by 3.8%).

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