Canada’s Population Growth Hits Record Low Amid Immigration Laws
New Population Figures from Canada 2025
Weakest Post-Pandemic Growth
Statistics indicate that the country’s population grew by just 47,098 people (0.1%) from April 1 to July 1, 2025. That is the year’s slowest growth since 2020, when pandemic COVID-19 border closures nearly ended growth.
Backlog Trends Over the Past Six Months
| Month | Immigration Backlog | Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | 779,900 | -5.03% |
| April 2025 | 760,200 | -2.53% |
| May 2025 | 802,000 | +5.5% |
| June 2025 | 842,800 | +5.02% |
| July 2025 | 901,700 | +6.98% |
| August 2025 | 958,850 | +6.33% |
The Shift in Policy Behind the Figures
- A cap on study permit applications.
- New spousal open work permit restrictions.
- A reduction of permanent resident objectives by 20%.
- Numerical admission targets for temporary residents are introduced.
Decline in Temporary Residents
Also from Statistics Canada, the number of non-permanent residents (NPRs) fell for three consecutive quarters. Non-permanent residents on July 1, 2025, were 3,024,216 and accounted for 7.3% of the population, down from 7.6% as of October 2024.
Q2 2025 decline breakdown:
- Study permit holders only : –32,025
- Work permit holders only : –19,637
- Citizens of study permits and work permits countries : –19,072
The government’s approach seeks to lower the number of temporary residents to only 5% of the total population by the year 2026.
Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027
The recently released Immigration Levels Plan (2025–2027) places historic limits on temporary admission:
- 2025 : 673,650
- 2026 : 516,600
- 2027 : 543,600
These objectives involve the granting of new study and work visas and offsetting policy shifts that diminish eligibility.
Fewer Workers and Students Returning
- Student intakes : Down by 55% from July 2025 compared to July 2024.
- Worker arrivals : Down by 37% from the same time.
- From January to July of the year 2025, Canada lost 98,070 fewer students and 137,000 fewer workers than in the first seven months of the year 2024.
Political Background of the TFWP
The program has been politically criticized over the last few months. Rightwing politician Pierre Poilievre has argued that it reduces Canadian prospects and sustains stagnant wages. His party took it one step further and pressed for the termination of the TFWP because it framed it as a barrier to domestic employment.
Meanwhile, companies in more than one province claim the program is needed because otherwise many industries could not afford to stay competitive amidst recurring labor shortages and demographic issues like an ageing workforce.
Metro Areas Now Ineligible for Low-Wage LMIA Applications
| Family Size | Minimum Required Funds (Annual) |
|---|---|
| 1 person (student only) | CAD $22,895 |
| 2 people | CAD $28,502 |
| 3 people | CAD $35,040 |
| 4 people | CAD $42,543 |
| 5 people | CAD $48,252 |
| 6 people | CAD $54,420 |
| 7 people | CAD $60,589 |
| Additional family member | CAD $6,170 |
These figures represent a significant increase from the earlier requirement of CAD $20,635 for a single applicant, which had been in effect since January 1, 2024.
Balancing Growth and Sustainability
Though the population of Canada increases but at a significantly lower rate, the government has made such steps as imperative to ease the strain on the market for housing, the healthcare system, and other essential services.
At a standstill today with the argument ongoing, the nation struggles to reconcile the demands of its economy with the needs of sustainable population development.
