SS: StatsCan says 2025 was the first year in Canadian history to record a population decline, owing mostly to the lower number of non-permanent residents in the country.
>According to the latest quarterly estimate from Statistics Canada, the population of citizens, landed immigrants and non-permanent residents in Canada stood at 41,472,081 on Jan. 1, 2026 — a decrease of 0.2 per cent, or just over 102,000, from Jan. 1, 2025.
>StatsCan said that even though the population increased by just over 77,000 people in the first six months of last year, it wasn’t enough to outweigh the decline of almost 180,000 in the second half of 2025.
>This preliminary estimate said a reduction in the number of non-permanent residents was the “leading factor in slowing population growth.”
>”After reaching 3,149,131 on Oct. 1, 2024, the number of non-permanent residents living in Canada steadily decreased to 2,676,441 on Jan. 1, 2026,” the agency said.
>Non-permanent residents include people holding work or study permits as well as asylum claimants and any family members living with them.
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>In all that time, the agency said, there has never been a one-year period that has shown a population decrease before 2025.
>StatsCan said this preliminary estimate “should be interpreted with caution” because work and study permit extensions could “lead to larger than usual updates” in the coming months.
>”As a result, the population decrease noted today could be smaller or greater or even turn into an increase when the estimates are updated in a few months, after more complete and accurate administrative data become available,” the agency said.
!ping Can&Immigration
lukasburner on
Unfortunate circumstances; however, very much needed. Hopefully, given temporary worker policy reform and real per-capita GDP/productivity growth, we can start increasing our immigration levels again.
el__dandy on
More housing would fix this guys. You heard that, Ontario?
3 Comments
SS: StatsCan says 2025 was the first year in Canadian history to record a population decline, owing mostly to the lower number of non-permanent residents in the country.
>According to the latest quarterly estimate from Statistics Canada, the population of citizens, landed immigrants and non-permanent residents in Canada stood at 41,472,081 on Jan. 1, 2026 — a decrease of 0.2 per cent, or just over 102,000, from Jan. 1, 2025.
>StatsCan said that even though the population increased by just over 77,000 people in the first six months of last year, it wasn’t enough to outweigh the decline of almost 180,000 in the second half of 2025.
>This preliminary estimate said a reduction in the number of non-permanent residents was the “leading factor in slowing population growth.”
>”After reaching 3,149,131 on Oct. 1, 2024, the number of non-permanent residents living in Canada steadily decreased to 2,676,441 on Jan. 1, 2026,” the agency said.
>Non-permanent residents include people holding work or study permits as well as asylum claimants and any family members living with them.
>-
>In all that time, the agency said, there has never been a one-year period that has shown a population decrease before 2025.
>StatsCan said this preliminary estimate “should be interpreted with caution” because work and study permit extensions could “lead to larger than usual updates” in the coming months.
>”As a result, the population decrease noted today could be smaller or greater or even turn into an increase when the estimates are updated in a few months, after more complete and accurate administrative data become available,” the agency said.
!ping Can&Immigration
Unfortunate circumstances; however, very much needed. Hopefully, given temporary worker policy reform and real per-capita GDP/productivity growth, we can start increasing our immigration levels again.
More housing would fix this guys. You heard that, Ontario?