From January 1 to April 1, 2025, the population of Canada increased by 20,107 people (+0.0%) to reach 41,548,787 people. This was the smallest quarterly growth since the third quarter of 2020, when the population decreased by 1,232 people (-0.0%) in the wake of border restrictions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported Statistics Canada on Wednesday.
The first quarter of 2025 (+0.0%) marked the sixth consecutive quarter of slower population growth (Infographic 1) following announcements by the federal government in 2024 that it would lower the levels of both temporary and permanent immigration. This was the second-slowest quarterly growth rate in Canada since comparable records began (first quarter of 1946), behind only the third quarter of 2020 (-0.0%) and tied with the fourth quarter of 2014 (+0.0%), explained the federal agency.
Quarterly population growth rate, Canada, 2014 to 2025
“The growth in the first quarter of 2025 was slower than what is typically seen in a first quarter. For example, from the first quarter of 2001 to the first quarter of 2024, population growth ranged from an increase of 0.1% in 2015 to a gain of 0.6% in 2024, averaging 0.3% growth over this period,” said Statistics Canada.
“Even with the reductions starting in 2024, international migration accounted for all of the population growth in the first quarter of 2025. This was because natural increase (births minus deaths) was negative (-5,628), meaning that there were more deaths than births. This is consistent with an aging population, a decreasing fertility rate and the higher numbers of deaths that typically occur during the winter months. Natural increase has been negative in every first quarter since 2022.”
The federal agency said Canada admitted 104,256 immigrants in the first quarter of 2025. This was the smallest number admitted in a first quarter in four years and reflects a lower total permanent immigration target for 2025. However, prior to 2022, Canada had never welcomed more than 86,246 immigrants in a first quarter (which occurred in the first quarter of 2016).
In Canada, there were fewer interprovincial migrants (81,231) in the first quarter of 2025 than in the same quarter in the previous three years. This was the lowest number in a first quarter since 2021 (69,630), said the report.
“Alberta (+7,176) reported the largest net gain from interprovincial migration among the provinces for the 11th consecutive quarter in the first quarter of 2025, although this net gain was smaller than during the first quarters of 2024 (+10,326) and 2023 (+9,772). Manitoba (+106) had its first quarterly net gain from interprovincial migration since the first quarter of 2004 (+7), while Saskatchewan (-152) saw its smallest net loss since the third quarter of 2013 (-76).”
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Entrepreneur. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025.
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