Canada's population experienced a slight decline in the first three months of 2026, driven by lower immigration rates and a decrease in natural population growth, according to preliminary estimates from Statistics Canada.
Population Figures
As of April 1, 2026, Canada's population stood at approximately 41.4 million, representing a drop of 0.1 percent, or 55,025 people, compared to the previous quarter. The agency emphasized that these estimates are preliminary and will be updated in September.
Immigration Trends
In the first quarter, Canada invited 83,149 permanent immigrants, a figure similar to the previous quarter but down 20.2 percent from the same period in 2025. The number of non-permanent residents, including foreign students, workers, and asylum claimants, also declined by 4.4 percent from the previous quarter, totaling about 2.55 million as of April 1.
Statistics Canada noted that it expects a larger-than-usual revision to its non-permanent resident estimates in September due to the rapidly evolving international migration policies and shifting contexts. The number of permit extensions for newcomers to remain in Canada has increased, but processing times have lengthened, potentially leading to more significant upward adjustments to population estimates.
Natural Population Growth
Natural population growth, calculated as births minus deaths, fell by 155 people in the first quarter. A year earlier, the population increased naturally by 983 individuals, highlighting the ongoing decline.
Context and Policy Changes
Canada's population declines follow record increases in growth rates during 2022 and 2023, when the federal government sought to address post-pandemic job vacancies. Recent policy changes have placed curbs on non-permanent residents and lowered permanent residency targets. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney linked Canada's sluggish economy to its declining population after two consecutive quarters of negative growth.
For more information, contact Naimul Karim at nkarim@postmedia.com.
