Quarterly Demographic Estimates
July to September 2020

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Release date: December 17, 2020

Highlights

• Canada’s population growth rate essentially stopped between July 1 and September 30, 2020, with an increase of just 2,767 people (+0.0%). This is by far the slowest growth in any quarter since at least January 1, 1946 (when national quarterly data become available).
• The population decreased in eight provinces and territories: Newfoundland and Labrador (-1,105), Nova Scotia (-236), New Brunswick (-161), Ontario (-895), Saskatchewan (-797), British Columbia (-1,861), the Northwest Territories (-87), and Nunavut (-68).
• This is the first time that as many provinces and territories have lost population in the same quarter (since at least the third quarter of 1951, the point at which quarterly data at the provincial and territorial level become available).  It is only the second time over the same period that Ontario and British Columbia have lost population over the course of a quarter.
• Four provinces and one territory increased in population in the third quarter of 2020: Prince Edward Island (+88), Quebec (+1,208), Manitoba (+321), Alberta (+6,236), and Yukon (+124).
• Out of the estimated 69,114 deaths in the third quarter of 2020, 706 were due to COVID-19 (as reported by the Public Health Agency of Canada). This is down from 8,495 deaths due to COVID-19 in the second quarter of 2020.
• Contrary to the usual pattern, growth in the third quarter was due to natural increase (births minus deaths) rather than international migratory increase. Natural increase totalled 29,910 while international migration was negative at -27,143.
• The same measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 that impacted growth in the second quarter remained in place in the third quarter. Border restrictions, reduction in international travel, as well as operational challenges faced by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reduced levels of international migration, especially non-permanent residents.
• Canada welcomed 40,069 immigrants in the third quarter of 2020, which is up from 34,271 in the second quarter. However, it is still 61.4% lower than the number in the third quarter of 2019 (103,719) and the lowest number of immigrants received in a third quarter since 1986 (26,207).
• The largest impact on growth in Canada in the third quarter came from the drop in the net number of non-permanent residents (almost -66,000). Usually, international students come to Canada in large numbers in the third quarter for the start of the school year. However, many were not able to do so this year due to restrictions on international travel. This is the largest drop in the net number of non-permanent residents since comparable data have been available (from the third quarter of 1971).
• During the third quarter of 2020, 65,795 people moved to another province or territory. This is a decrease of 21.0% from the third quarter of 2019 and the fewest number of migrants in a third quarter since comparable record keeping began in the third quarter of 1971.
• British Columbia had the highest net gain from interprovincial migration in the third quarter of 2020 (+4,742 people) and Nova Scotia’s net gain (+1,471) was the highest the province has seen since the third quarter of 1984.
• Saskatchewan (-2,774) and Manitoba (-1,780) lost the most people through interprovincial migration. Saskatchewan has had net losses since the third quarter of 2013, while Manitoba has had net losses to other provinces and territories since the second quarter of 2004.

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