Canada reports the biggest population decline in recent memory
a day ago
- #economic impact
- #immigration
- #population decline
- Canada's population declined by 76,000 in Q3 2025, the largest drop since the 1940s.
- The decline was driven by fewer international students due to federal caps on study permits.
- Population fell by 0.2%, with current numbers at 41,575,585, marking a shift in immigration policy impact.
- Federal goal to reduce non-permanent residents to 5% of the population by 2027, down from 6.8%.
- Temporary residents peaked at 3.15 million in Oct 2024, up from 1.36 million in July 2021.
- Policy changes aimed at curbing immigration have led to economic concerns, including potential sector slowdowns.
- Alberta and Nunavut were the only regions with population growth (0.2% each) in Q3 2025.
- Economists predict the drop in non-permanent residents may boost GDP per capita but slow broader economic growth.