It's too fierce!
In the third quarter of this year, Canada's population grew by more than 430,000, the fastest rate in 66 years!
Statistics Canada released its third-quarter population estimates today (Tuesday, December 19), CBC and other media reports. According to the latest data, as of October 1, the population of Canada has exceeded 40.5 million, reaching 40.5283 million.
Canada's population increased by more than 430,000 people in three months, or 1.1 percent, compared to July 1, the fastest growth rate since 1957.
In 1957, there were 16.7 million people in Canada, and in the second quarter of that year, the Canadian population increased by 198,000, a growth rate of 1.2%.
Canada's population grew by more than 1.03 million people in the first nine months of 2023, a figure that exceeds the total annual population growth in any other year since Canada's federal establishment in 1867, including a record 2022, the Bureau of Statistics said.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, Canada added more than 1.05 million people in 2022, the first time in history that the population grew by more than 1 million in one year.
It is also the highest annual population growth rate since 1957, when the post-World War II baby boom led to a high population growth rate.
International migration pushes
The record population growth has been largely driven by international migration. It is reported that in the third quarter of this year, the increase in the number of international migrants accounted for 96% of the total population growth, while the natural population growth caused by births and deaths accounted for only 4%.
The increase in non-permanent residents of international migration is also quite high. The report shows that the number of non-permanent residents increased by about 313,000 in just three months from July to September, the highest quarterly increase since 1971.
These non-permanent residents are predominantly expatriates on work and Xi study visas, followed by refugee claimants.
From January to September this year, the number of immigrants in Canada has also exceeded 370,000, accounting for 79.8% of the annual immigration target (465,000) of Immigration Canada.
Alberta is the most attractive
Data previously released by the Bureau of Statistics for the period from July 2022 to July 2023 showed that among the provinces, the fastest population growth was in Alberta, with a growth rate of 4%.
Alberta's population growth has benefited not only from foreign immigration, but also from interprovincial migration.
Over the past year, 56,245 more people moved to Alberta than left the province, the most since Statistics Canada began collecting such data in 1971-72.
Seven other provinces also recorded the highest annual population growth rates: Prince Edward Island: 3.9 percent, Nova Scotia: 3.2 percent, New Brunswick: 3.1 percent, Ontario: 3 percent, Manitoba: 2.9 percent, Saskatchewan: 2.6 percent, and Quebec: 2.3 percent.
The population has skyrocketed, and Canada is facing a housing crisis
Experts warn that Canada is facing a housing crisis caused by a rapidly growing population, and that while the government is working hard to build homes, the population boom is eroding housing affordability among residents.
In early December, Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Toni Gravelle spoke in a speech about the potential impact of immigration on the economy, especially inflation.
While acknowledging that immigration has a positive effect on economic growth, labor force growth and offsetting an aging population, Gravel warned that it will also put more pressure on an already challenging housing market, including residential area restrictions and construction worker shortages.
Gravel pointed out that the population boom combined with a shortage of supply has led to a steady rise in rents in Canada in recent years, which also partly explains why house prices have not fallen as many expected.
The latest poll shows that Canadians are concerned about the impact of immigration on the country's infrastructure and services.
According to a Leger poll conducted last month, about three-quarters of respondents believe that the increase in immigration is putting more pressure on the housing market and health care system.
Compared to March last year, the percentage of respondents who said they wanted Canada to welcome more immigrants has fallen from 17 percent to 9 percent.
In 20 years, Canada's population will be 50 million
According to Statistics Canada, on June 16 this year, Canada's population officially exceeded the 40 million mark.
This figure comes from the Bureau of Statistics' population clock, which simulates population growth in real time based on multiple factors such as recent births, deaths, and immigration data.
Anil Arola, Canada's chief statistician, said in a statement: "This is an exciting milestone for Canada. ”
"This is a strong signal that Canada remains a dynamic and welcoming country. ”
Statistics Canada says Canada remains the fastest-growing G7 country, with a population growth rate of 2.7 per cent, a rate that would lead to a doubling of Canada's population in about 46 years, Statistics Canada said.