Canada Records Unprecedented Population Decline

In a surprising turn of events, Canada has recorded an unprecedented population decline in the third quarter of 2025. Approximately 76,000 individuals left the country, marking the first decline since statistical records began in 1946. This significant drop signals a departure from the population growth experienced throughout the pandemic.

Factors Behind Canada’s Population Decline

The recent statistics indicate a population decrease of 0.2 percent, with current estimates showing a total population of 41,575,585 people. This decline is largely attributed to changes in immigration policies aimed at reducing the number of international students and temporary residents.

• Temporary residents reduced from over three million to approximately 2.85 million between July and October 2023.
• The percentage of non-permanent residents fell from 7.3 percent to 6.8 percent of the total population.

Impacts of Immigration Policy Changes

Following a series of policy adjustments by the federal government, fewer study permits were issued, causing a notable decline of about 73,000 study permit holders in the third quarter. Provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia reported their first recorded population declines.

Robert Kavcic, a senior economist at the Bank of Montreal, emphasized the significance of this demographic shift. He mentioned that the previous immigration surge had resulted in notable economic challenges, including rising rent prices and housing affordability crises.

Historical Context and Future Implications

Canada previously experienced rapid growth due to a high influx of international students and foreign workers. For comparison, during the pandemic’s peak in 2023, Canada witnessed a notable increase of 420,000 people in just three months. However, this new trend raises concerns about the economic implications and the government’s targets for reducing temporary residents to five percent by the end of 2027.

Comparative Population Statistics

This ongoing population adjustment presents a critical moment in Canada’s demographic and economic landscape, necessitating careful consideration from policymakers.