Canada’s population fell in third quarter, driven by drop in non-permanent residents: StatsCan

Canada’s population decreased over the third quarter of 2025 — driven by a drop in non-permanent residents, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

Preliminary data published Wednesday shows a decline in the population of about 76,068 people, or 0.2 per cent between July 1 to Oct. 1.

Statistics Canada says the decrease is mainly due to a reduction in the number of non-permanent residents, a result of changing government policy. 

In 2024 the federal government announced it would be slashing the number of non-permanent residents allowed into Canada and lowering the cap on international student limits.

Since getting elected this spring, Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed to get “immigration under control.”

Statistics Canada says the decrease is attributable to record-high outflows — meaning permits expiring — compared to inflows, or permits being issued. Most notably it saw a drop in people who were on a study permit, about 73,682 people, followed by those holding a work and study permit. 

Statistics Canada says the drop in non-permanent residents was the largest it’s seen since it began keeping comparable records in the third quarter of 1971. 

Every province and territory had fewer non-permanent residents on Oct. 1 than July 1, the numbers show.

Ontario experienced the largest decrease, losing about 107,280 non-permanent residents followed by British Columbia (26,242), Quebec (15,989) and Alberta (10,605).

More shifts to immigration are coming. 

The federal government signalled in its November budget that it will significantly reduce the number of temporary residents allowed into Canada over the next few years. It’s aiming to admit only 385,000 temporary residents next year and 370,000 in the following two years. 

The dialling back follows public polling suggesting Canadians’ consensus on immigration is changing amid a housing and health-care crisis. 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s own polling suggests Canadians’ support for immigration levels decreased “to a low not seen in 30 years.”

The Opposition Conservatives have made immigration a key issue in the House over the last few months, with Leader Pierre Poilievre calling for the temporary foreign worker program to be dismantled.