Business 17 Jun 2026

Canada's population drops in first quarter of 2026

Canada's population dipped by about 55,000 people in the first three months of this year, according to new numbers from Statistics Canada, which estimates the population as of April 1 was 41,417,056.

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Canada's population dipped by about 55,000 people in the first three months of this year, according to new numbers from Statistics Canada, which estimates the population as of April 1 was 41,417,056. The 0.1 per cent drop reflects a decrease in both immigration and in births compared to deaths, the agency said. There were about 20 per cent fewer permanent immigrants in Canada in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time last year, dropping to 83,149 from 104,210 in 2025. The number of non-permanent residents dropped by more than 117,000, though Statistics Canada cautioned there may be future updates to those initial estimates due to "shifting international migration policies." As well, what the agency calls "natural increase" in populationif births outnumber deathswas, in fact, a decrease as 155 more people died than were born across the country in the first quarter. These population shifts are also a likely factor in recent data that shows, by some measures, Canada's economy has been struggling.

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