Canada’s population saw an increase in the third quarter of 2022, a record high population growth mainly due to the increase in the number of temporary residents.
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As of October 1, 2022, Canada’s population was estimated at 39,292,355, up 362,453 (+0.9%) from July 1, 2022, according to Statistics Canada.
Canada welcomed 122,145 immigrants in the third quarter of 2022, slightly less than in the third quarter of 2021 (122,911).
A total of 225,198 temporary residents have been added to the country’s population. This corresponds to an increase of almost 68,000 people compared to the second quarter of the year, when the last record growth (+157,310) was recorded.
This would be the highest quarterly population growth rate observed since the second quarter of 1957 (+1.2%). This rapid population growth was then linked to the high number of births recorded during the post-war baby boom and the high immigration of refugees following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
The increase in the number of temporary residents in the third quarter was larger than any full-year rise seen since 1971, the year data on temporary residents became available.
This increase would be mainly attributable to work permit holders, although all types of temporary residents increased.
Also, Canada continued to welcome people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Between January 1 and December 11, 2022, 132,359 Ukrainian citizens and Canadian permanent residents of Ukrainian descent returned to the country by land or air, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.
In addition, Ukrainian nationals and their family members can apply for a temporary resident visa to travel to and temporarily stay in Canada.
Between March 17 and December 13, 2022, 735,927 Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization requests were received and 456,083 were approved.