Maple News reports that Canada’s population could grow significantly over the next five decades, reaching 63 million by the year 2073. This forecast comes from Statistics Canada’s newly released population projections, which model a range of growth scenarios influenced heavily by immigration.
Under its medium-growth scenario (referred to as M1), Statistics Canada anticipates an increase of approximately 21 million people over the next 50 years—up from the current population of around 41 million. These projections are based on recent demographic trends and the insights of population experts consulted during the model development.
It’s important to note that Statistics Canada describes these figures as “projections, not predictions,” meaning they reflect plausible future outcomes given current data and assumptions, rather than guaranteed results.
Growth through immigration remains the core driver of Canada’s long-term population expansion. This comes at a time when the natural increase—births minus deaths—is slowing due to Canada’s aging population.
The projections also reveal important demographic changes. By 2073, individuals aged 65 and older could represent between 21.9% and 32.3% of Canada’s population. In contrast, the share of children aged 0 to 14 is expected to decline, according to most of the projection models.
As the age distribution shifts, the national average age is projected to increase from 41.6 years in 2023 to somewhere between 42.6 and 50.1 years by 2073. This aging trend poses long-term challenges for workforce planning, healthcare, and economic growth—areas where continued strategic immigration policy may play a stabilizing role.
With Canada recently crossing the 41 million population mark—just a year after hitting 40 million—it’s clear that immigration will continue to play a critical role not only in population growth but also in shaping the country’s economy and demographics in the coming decades.
According to Maple News, these population forecasts highlight the importance of immigration reform, integration strategies, and innovation in public services to adapt to a rapidly changing Canada.