Maple News reports that in 2020, Canada’s population growth rate dropped to its lowest level since 1916—a direct result of increased mortality and a significant decline in immigration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to recent data from Statistics Canada, the population grew by only 0.4%, marking a historic slowdown not seen since World War I, when growth was just 0.3%.
By year’s end, Canada’s population inched up by approximately 149,000 people, surpassing 38 million in total. The slowdown was driven by multiple factors: an increase in national deaths—with over 5% attributable to COVID-19—as well as a significant decrease in immigration levels. Notably, 2020 was the first time on record that Canada surpassed 300,000 deaths in a single year.
In a typical year, immigration contributes to about 80% of Canada’s population growth. However, in 2020, this figure dropped to 58% as the country admitted just 184,000 new immigrants—the lowest number since 1998. For comparison, 2019 saw 86% of population growth resulting from immigration. Travel restrictions and processing delays caused by the pandemic drastically impacted international arrivals, including new permanent residents, work permit holders, and international students.
The loss of over 86,000 temporary residents—such as foreign workers and students—marked the largest net decline ever recorded in this category. These losses underscore the broader demographic and economic challenges Canada faces, including a shrinking labor force and a declining birth rate, both of which immigration programs have traditionally helped to offset.
In response to the sharp population and immigration decline, Canada’s federal government ramped up its immigration targets in late 2020. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced an ambitious plan to welcome 1.2 million new immigrants over three years, including a record-setting goal of 401,000 newcomers in 2021 alone.
To reach this goal amidst continued travel restrictions, the government shifted focus toward candidates already residing in Canada. This strategic pivot includes prioritizing applications from individuals eligible under the Canadian Experience Class and those nominated through Provincial Nominee Programs via the Express Entry system—Canada’s primary platform for skilled immigration selection.
Express Entry operates by scoring eligible applicants and inviting the highest-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence. While traditionally welcoming a mix of foreign and domestic applicants, early 2021 saw a pivot to candidates already within Canada to mitigate pandemic-related disruptions.
Despite the challenges of 2020, Canada remains committed to high immigration levels to support long-term economic and demographic stability. Maple News will continue to monitor and report on Canada’s evolving immigration strategies and their impact on national growth.