Canada’s population has increased by more than a million people for the first time in history in 2022, mainly due to a surge in immigration and temporary residents, Statistics Canada said on Wednesday.
It is reported that the total population grew by a record 1.05 million people in the past twelve months to January 1, 2023. According to the statistic agency, 96 percent of the rise was due to international migration to Canada.
With 39.57 million populations, Canada remains the fastest-growing G7 country in the world. The 2.7 percent increase rate in the country’s total population translates that Canada’s population would be doubled in about 26 years, the agency said.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took power in 2015, his liberal movement surged immigration to Canada, which has undoubtedly helped its economy and supported an aging population.
Meanwhile, Ottawa has initiated certain schemes to help people move to Canada affected by geopolitical crises, like the Ukraine war, instability in Afghanistan, or the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Such schemes have been the driving forces behind an unprecedented rise in migration to Canada in the recent past. in 2022, Canada welcomed 437,180 immigrants and the number of non-permanent residents increased by 607,782 people, indicating the highest level on records.
Immigration accounts for almost 100% of Canada’s labor force growth and by 2036 immigrants are projected to be about 30% of Canada’s population, up from 20.7% in 2011, according to Canada’s immigration ministry.
