Statistics Canada's population estimate suggests Canada's population declined last year, due primarily to a drop in the number of non-permanent immigrants.
The estimate suggests Canada's population lost about 102,000 people in 2025.
That came after the non-permanent resident population fell by more than 171,000 individuals between Oct. 1, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026.
The agency says these estimates should be interpreted with caution, as a spike in renewals for work and study permits could lead to larger-than-usual population changes in the coming months.
The latest figures from the immigration department show the number of arriving international students and workers continues to decline, with a 28 per cent drop in new arrivals between January 2025 and January 2026.
The government's Immigration Levels Plan for 2026 plots a continuing reduction in the number of temporary workers and international students over the next three years, after years of rapid growth that peaked in fall 2024.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
