‘Exciting Milestone’: Canada’s Population Hits 40 Million

New Canadians take the Oath of Citizenship in a ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax on Jan. 15, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Riley Smith)

Canada’s population is about to hit a major milestone of 40 million people on June 16, according to Statistics Canada’s Population Clock.

“This is an exciting milestone for Canada. It is a strong signal that Canada remains a dynamic and welcoming country, full of potential. As we head into Canada Day, this is certainly cause for celebration,” said Statistics Canada chief statistician Anil Arora in a press release.

The country leads the G7 in population growth, having increased by a record 1.06 million in 2022, the agency said. Between July and October of that year alone, the population grew by 362,453 people, primarily due to a rise in non-permanent residents entering the country.

Canada is poised to take in 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

In 2022, Canada’s annual population growth rate of 2.7 percent was the highest on record since 1957 at 3.3 percent.

The trend is being driven mostly by permanent and temporary migration, which accounted for 96 percent of all growth in 2022. Every province and territory, except the Northwest Territories, saw increases in population in 2022.

Statistics Canada said that based on current trends, the population could hit 50 million by 2043. In 2022, the agency estimated Canada would hit that number by 2068.

“While several countries are bracing for the impacts of population decline, Canada continues to lead the G7 when it comes to population growth,” the agency said.

Canada’s population numbered around 3.4 million following Confederation in 1867, and did not hit 10 million until 1929. The population reached 20 million in 1967 and 30 million in 1998.