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Highlights

1. On July 1, 2008, Canada’s population was estimated at 33,311,400, a 1.2% increase over July 1 of the previous year. This was the strongest annual growth observed since 1991/1992.
2. In 2007/2008, the country’s gains from international migration came to 257,100, a level that had only been surpassed once (292,100 in 1988/1989) since 1971-1972.
3. Canada’s natural growth was also up. In 2007/2008, this growth was estimated at 126,900, a high since 1997/1998 (127,400). The country’s natural growth has been rising constantly since 2002/2003, when it reached a historical low of 106,600.
4. The rate of population growth remained higher in western Canada. The four provinces west of Ontario all posted a demographic growth above the national level.
5. Alberta remained the province with the strongest rate of population growth, despite the drop in its net interprovincial migration. A rise in the natural increase and, especially, in net international migration, partly compensated for the decline in Alberta’s attraction.
6. For the first time since 1991/1992, the Atlantic provinces all posted population increases. The provinces took advantage of the slowing down of Alberta’s attraction and the rise in their net international migration.