Maple News reports that a recent study from Statistics Canada reveals a significant shift in Canadians’ family planning decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many choosing to postpone having children. This trend adds urgency to the country’s ongoing reliance on immigration to support its shrinking workforce and aging population.
According to the study, Canada experienced its sharpest annual decline in births since 2006, reaching a new fertility low of 1.4 children per woman in 2020. While this drop aligns with a global trend seen during the pandemic, experts caution that it might also reflect a continued decline that has been underway since 2008.
Policymakers closely track fertility trends, as the number of Canadian-born workers entering the labour market typically lags about 25 years behind current birth rates. A substantial decline today could mean fewer native-born workers and heightened pressure on Canada’s economy in the coming decades. In this context, immigration becomes a cornerstone of population and economic growth planning.
Lower birth rates could eventually shift Canada into the category of “lowest-low” fertility nations—defined by a fertility rate below 1.3—which is associated with accelerated population aging, higher dependency ratios, and increased demands on healthcare and pension systems.
The Statistics Canada report indicates widespread changes in reproductive plans among Canadians aged 15 to 49. Roughly one in four reconsidered having children due to the pandemic. Nearly 20% reported they now want fewer children or intend to delay childbearing, while only 4% planned to have more or expand their families sooner.
Interestingly, the trend toward delaying childbirth is more common than the decision to have fewer children altogether. This is particularly notable given that the average age of first-time mothers in Canada is already 31. Delays in childbearing can reduce the number of children individuals might have due to age-related fertility challenges.
Non-parents were twice as likely as parents to revise their family planning toward fewer or later children. The study also found that visible minority groups were more likely to delay or reduce their intended number of children, reflecting broader socio-economic impacts faced by these communities during the pandemic, including higher rates of unemployment and health disparities.
As Canada’s fertility continues to drop, economic immigration will likely remain essential to offset labor shortages and sustain national growth. These demographic shifts underscore the importance of forward-looking immigration policies that can adapt to societal changes accelerated by global crises such as the pandemic.