The Canadian government announced that for the first time in history, the population of Canada grew by more than one million individuals in a single year.
According to data from Statistics Canada, the population increased from 38.5 million to 39.5 million people, resulting in a growth rate of 2.7 percent, the highest annual population growth rate since 1957.
The government noted that if they want to maintain this growth rate, the population would double in 26 years. The Canadian government’s efforts to alleviate labor shortages have contributed to the population increase, which has been further boosted by a surge in both permanent and temporary immigrants.
However, Statistics Canada warns that this population increase presents additional challenges, such as housing, infrastructure, and transportation in certain regions of the country.
Canada’s Ambitious Immigration Plan: 1.5 Million Immigrants Annually by 2025 to Boost Economy
In 2022, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled a plan to bring in 1.5 million immigrants annually by 2025. The country is banking on immigration to fill the gap in its economy, given its ageing population and low birth rate.
Canada welcomed individuals impacted by conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, and the humanitarian crisis in Taliban-led Afghanistan.
The government agency reported that in 2022, Canada welcomed 437,000 immigrants, and the number of temporary residents in the country increased by 607,782, marking a “record-breaking year for the processing of immigration applications.”
With this growing population, Canada may emerge as the top-ranked country for population growth among the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2022, in addition to being the fastest-growing G7 country.
