Estimates of Canada’s population by age and gender

On July 1, 2024, Canada’s population was expected to be 41,288,599 people. The Canadian population increased by 250,229 between April 1 and July 1, 2024, at a quarterly growth rate of 0.6%. International migration accounted for nearly all of Canada’s population growth in the second quarter of 2024 (96.0%; +240,303). Natural increase, or the difference between births and deaths, accounted for the remaining growth (4.0%; +9,926).

The Northwest Territories had the weakest growth, while Alberta had the fastest.

For the fourth consecutive quarter, from April 1 to July 1, 2024, Alberta grew at the quickest rate among the provinces and territories (+1.0% in the second quarter). During the second quarter, The province of Alberta experienced significant levels of natural increase (+4,669), interprovincial migration (+9,654), and foreign migration (+31,877).

In the second quarter, the Northwest Territories experienced the smallest growth (+0.1%), as losses from interprovincial movement (-165) were compensated by natural rise (+40) and foreign migration (+170).

Relative to pre-pandemic levels, the number of interprovincial migrants

Migration between Canadian provinces and territories surged in the two years after the pandemic began, reaching 348,777 in 2021–2022 and 343,079 in 2022–2023. Pre-pandemic levels, which varied from about 250,000 to about 305,000 from 2000/2001 to 2020/2021, were somewhat above, but closer to, the number of persons who relocated to another province or territory in 2023/2024 (+306,756).

Increased growth in the adult population indicates that the population is aging.

Between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, the number of Canadians aged 0 to 14 years increased by 1.2% (77,411), and the number of Canadians aged 15 to 64 years increased by 3.2% (865,310). With the aging of the enormous cohorts of baby boomers, the number of adults 65 and over increased by 3.4% (+262,394).

The most recent demographic estimates (M1 medium-growth scenario) predict that, by 2073, the population of Canadians 65 and over will rise at the quickest rate virtually every year.

As public concerns grow, Canada announces a cut in immigration intake.

The Canadian government has declared that it will accept fewer permanent residents (PRs) next year by more than 18%. The 2025–27 Immigration Levels Plan, which was made public on Thursday, included details on the announcement. In 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will publish revised intake figures of 395,000 PRs, down from the original target of 500,000 PRs announced in November. Likewise, the figure is being lowered from 500,000 to 380,000 by 2026. In 2027, 365,000 is the goal. This year, a total of 485,000 PRs were given.

According to the new levels plan, the population is predicted to expand by 0.8% in 2027 after seeing a minor 0.2% reduction in 2025 and 2026. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the news on X, writing, “We’re going to have fewer temporary foreign workers in Canada.” We are enacting more stringent regulations that require businesses to provide evidence of their inability to hire Canadians first. 

With 58% of respondents saying they “believe the country accepts too many immigrants,” the study revealed a 14 percentage point increase since 2023, expanding on a 17-point gain from 2022 to 2023.

The foreign interference hearing concludes with policy points and political sarcasm.

Participants in a federal public inquiry are urging Ottawa to use legislative tools effectively, close legal loopholes, and promote public education to take more aggressive action against foreign meddling.

Legal representatives of political parties, diaspora, human rights organizations, and the federal government made closing arguments to the committee investigating foreign intervention on Thursday. Aaron Shull of the Centre for International Governance Innovation stated that giving the public a concise, fact-based evaluation of the consequences of foreign meddling is one of the main obstacles the investigation faces in its fact-finding mission.

According to an interim assessment released in May by the inquiry commissioner, Marie-Josee Hogue, Chinese foreign involvement did not affect the overall outcomes of the last two general elections.

The investigation stated that it is impossible to say with certainty if interference had an impact on the results in a limited number of ridings.