Canada’s Population Growth Slows as Immigration Curbs Take Hold
Canada’s population growth has slowed to its lowest pace in three years, driven by a decline in immigration following a period of rapid expansion, Bloomberg reports.
The slowdown marks a significant shift after a post-pandemic population boom that strained the Canadian economy and led to growing public skepticism about immigration levels.
According to Statistics Canada, the country’s population grew at an annual rate of 1.8% in 2024, a notable decrease compared to the 3.1% growth experienced in 2023 and the 2.5% in 2022. Canada added 744,324 people, bringing the total population to 41.5 million.
The majority of the growth continued to be fueled by international migration. However, restrictions implemented by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government have begun to take effect, curbing the number of new arrivals and reducing the overall number of temporary residents.
For the past three years, Canada experienced unprecedented population growth driven almost entirely by large-scale immigration. Surges in international students, foreign workers, and refugees outpaced the country’s infrastructure and resources, leading to higher unemployment rates and exacerbating existing housing shortages.
The strain on the economy and infrastructure shifted public sentiment, turning traditionally welcoming Canadians into immigration skeptics. This change in public opinion forced the government to reassess its ambitious goals for rapidly expanding the labor force and mitigating the impact of an aging population.
Adding to the demographic challenges, Canada’s birth rates have been declining, with natural increase (births minus deaths) accounting for just 2.7% of new residents. This trend presents a long-term challenge for future governments, requiring a delicate balance between addressing short-term economic needs and long-term demographic prospects.
As Canada prepares for upcoming elections in the coming weeks, both Prime Minister Mark Carney (Trudeau’s successor) and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have indicated that their respective parties would prioritize aligning immigration levels with Canada’s economic needs and absorptive capacity.
