Canada's population came to a near standstill in early 2025.
Statistics Canada's quarterly demographic report, released Wednesday, shows Canada's population increased by just 20,107 people from January 1st to April 1st. That is an increase of less than .1 per cent. Our country's population is now 41,548,787. This was the smallest quarterly gain since the third quarter of 2020, when the population actually decreased by 1,232 people, in the wake of border restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The first quarter of 2025 marked the sixth consecutive quarter of what is considered slower population growth, following announcements by the federal government in 2024 that it would lower the levels of both temporary and permanent immigration.
Even with the reductions starting in 2024, Statistics Canada reports international migration accounted for all of the population growth in the first quarter of 2025. That is because there were 5,628 more deaths than births in our country for those three months. According to Statistics Canada, this is consistent with an aging population, a decreasing fertility rate, and the higher number of deaths that typically occur during the winter months.
For the first time since 2004, Statistics Canada is reporting that Manitoba experienced a quarterly net gain from interprovincial migration. During the first quarter of 2025, 4,352 people moved to Manitoba from another province or territory. That is more than the 4,246 people who moved out of the province.
"Manitoba is a welcoming province, and more people are choosing to move and stay here because our economy is strong and there are opportunities to build a good life," says Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino. "Our province is growing as our government continues to make life more affordable and create good Manitoba jobs."
Meanwhile, the next census in Canada will happen in 2026. However, that is not stopping municipalities like Hanover from projecting what their population might be. The last census in 2021 showed Hanover to have a population of 17,216. Hanover Administration is projecting that by the end of 2024; their population grew to 20,995. This is based on the number of dwellings in Hanover (6,362) multiplied by 3.3, which is the average persons per household in Canada from the 2021 census.
In Steinbach, the 2021 census revealed a population of 17,806. A spokesperson for the city says that based on 2021 census density and 2025 dwellings, Steinbach's current population estimate is 20,100.
Statistics Canada reports that during the first quarter of 2025, four provinces and one territory saw their population decrease. Ontario decreased by 5,664 residents, B.C. by 2,357, Quebec by 1,013, Newfoundland and Labrador by 115 and Yukon by 15. Alberta saw the largest growth at 20,562 residents.
Canada is also seeing a drop in the number of non-permanent residents. On April 1st, 2025, there were 2,959,825 non-permanent residents in Canada, accounting for 7.1 per cent of the total population. Statistics Canada says this was down from a peak of 7.4 per cent of the population on October 1st, 2024. The number of non-permanent residents has dropped by 61,111 since January 1st, 2025.
The largest decrease in non-permanent residents in the first quarter of 2025 came from people holding a study permit. This accounted for 53,669.
And finally, Canada admitted 104,256 immigrants in the first quarter of 2025. Statistics Canada reports this was the smallest number admitted in a first quarter in four years and reflects a lower total permanent immigration target for 2025. Every province and territory except for Newfoundland and Labrador (+103), Nunavut (+13), and the Northwest Territories (+7) admitted fewer immigrants in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter in 2024.