Despite welcoming over 400,000 new permanent residents annually, Canada's immigration strategy is a precise and evolving blueprint for the nation's future, as detailed by its latest demographic and economic statistics.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Canada planned to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents as part of its Immigration Levels Plan, marking a slight decrease from the 500,000 target set for 2025.
- Canada admitted 437,539 permanent residents in 2022, representing a 58% increase from 276,706 in 2021.
- Temporary residents in Canada reached 2.5 million in 2023, including 1.05 million study permit holders and 727,700 workers.
- In 2021 Census, 62.0% of recent immigrants (2016-2021) were from Asia.
- Recent immigrants aged 25-54 made up 58.9% of the 2016-2021 cohort.
- India was the top source country for immigrants in 2022, with 118,095 admissions.
- Immigrants contribute $86.1 billion annually to Canada's GDP.
- Recent immigrants fill 25% of STEM jobs in Canada.
- Immigrants are 2.5 times more likely to be self-employed than Canadian-born.
- Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program selected 42% of 2022 economic immigrants.
- Provincial Nominee Program accounted for 20% of permanent residents in 2022.
- Family reunification class made up 19% of 2022 admissions.
- 90.2% of recent immigrants were proficient in at least one official language in 2021.
- 76% of economic immigrants were employed 3 years after landing.
- Immigrant retention rate in nominating province: 85% after 5 years for PNP.
Canada welcomed hundreds of thousands of permanent and temporary residents last year across diverse programs.
Admission Volumes
- In 2023, Canada planned to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents as part of its Immigration Levels Plan, marking a slight decrease from the 500,000 target set for 2025.
- Canada admitted 437,539 permanent residents in 2022, representing a 58% increase from 276,706 in 2021.
- Temporary residents in Canada reached 2.5 million in 2023, including 1.05 million study permit holders and 727,700 workers.
- From 2016 to 2021, Canada's immigrant population grew by 14.1%, compared to 3.8% for the non-immigrant population.
- In 2022, Canada issued 55,000 permanent resident visas to Ukrainians under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program.
- Economic immigrants accounted for 58% of permanent resident admissions in 2022, totaling 254,000 individuals.
- Family class sponsorships resulted in 84,000 permanent residents admitted in 2022.
- Canada received 91,841 refugee claimants at the border in 2022, a 102% increase from 2021.
- Provincial Nominee Program admissions reached 83,000 in 2022, up 54% from 2021.
- Express Entry invitations issued totaled 110,000 in 2023, with a minimum CRS score of 484.
- Study permits issued rose to 608,000 in 2023, a 29% increase from 2022.
- Work permits for temporary foreign workers numbered 727,700 in 2023.
- In 2021, Canada's foreign-born population was 23% of the total population, or 8.3 million people.
- Permanent resident admissions target for 2024 is 485,000, including 395,000 economic immigrants.
- Canada welcomed 405,303 permanent residents in 2021 despite pandemic restrictions.
- Intra-company transferees held 28,400 work permits in 2022.
- International student enrolment in Canada reached 807,750 in 2022.
- Refugee admissions totaled 23,911 in 2022.
- Humanitarian and compassionate admissions were 2,370 in 2022.
- In 2023, Canada aimed for 110,000 French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec.
Admission Volumes Interpretation
Canada, it seems, has thrown open its doors not with a bang but with a well-calibrated spreadsheet, strategically swapping sheer volume for precision in picking everyone from skilled workers to refugees, all while its classrooms and job sites hum with the vibrant, temporary energy of millions more knocking politely, yet persistently, on the door.
Demographic Profiles
- In 2021 Census, 62.0% of recent immigrants (2016-2021) were from Asia.
- Recent immigrants aged 25-54 made up 58.9% of the 2016-2021 cohort.
- India was the top source country for immigrants in 2022, with 118,095 admissions.
- Philippines ranked second with 26,955 immigrants in 2022.
- Nigeria sent 22,165 immigrants to Canada in 2022.
- 52.2% of permanent residents admitted in 2022 were women.
- Average age of principal applicants in Express Entry in 2023 was 31 years.
- 29.8% of recent immigrants spoke both English and French in 2021 Census.
- China contributed 31,815 immigrants in 2022.
- 45.6% of 2016-2021 immigrants had a university degree.
- Afghanistan was the top source for refugees with 7,330 admissions in 2022.
- 23.0% of Canada's population was foreign-born in 2021, highest in Toronto at 46.7%.
- Immigrants aged 65+ grew by 20.3% from 2016-2021.
- Iran sent 11,290 immigrants in 2022.
- 37.6% of recent immigrants were from Southern Asia in 2021.
- Pakistan contributed 9,910 immigrants in 2022.
- Women comprised 54% of family class immigrants in 2022.
- 15.2% of immigrants were from Western Asia in 2016-2021 period.
- Eritrea was a key refugee source with 3,415 in 2022.
- 28.4% of recent immigrants had no religious affiliation in 2021.
- Syria contributed 2,845 refugees in 2022.
Demographic Profiles Interpretation
Canada is strategically renewing itself by attracting a young, highly-educated, and predominantly Asian workforce, while still honoring its humanitarian duty to offer refuge.
Economic Contributions
- Immigrants contribute $86.1 billion annually to Canada's GDP.
- Recent immigrants fill 25% of STEM jobs in Canada.
- Immigrants are 2.5 times more likely to be self-employed than Canadian-born.
- In 2021, immigrants had an employment rate of 61.7% vs 62.1% for Canadian-born.
- New immigrants boost Canada's GDP per capita by 0.4% annually.
- 80% of economic immigrants find jobs within 6 months of arrival.
- Immigrants pay $20-30 billion more in taxes than they receive in services over lifetime.
- Temporary foreign workers fill 2.6% of total employment in Canada in 2022.
- International students contribute $22.3 billion to economy annually.
- Immigrants start businesses at twice the rate of native-born Canadians.
- In 2022, immigrants held 28% of tech sector jobs in Canada.
- Economic immigrants have 85% employment rate after 3 years.
- Remittances from Canada total $32 billion annually, mostly to immigrant origin countries.
- Immigrants account for 35% of business owners in Canada.
- Study permit holders have unemployment rate of 11.2% in 2023.
- Permanent residents contribute to 23% labour force growth 2019-2021.
- Immigrants in construction sector: 25% of workforce.
- Francophone immigrants contribute $1.5 billion to minority communities' GDP.
- Express Entry candidates with job offers earn 20% higher wages.
- Refugees achieve employment parity with Canadians after 10 years.
Economic Contributions Interpretation
Canada's economy is clearly running on the kind of ambition that thinks, "You know what this country needs? More businesses, tax revenue, and people who aren't afraid to fix the Wi-Fi," and thank goodness for that.
Integration and Outcomes
- 90.2% of recent immigrants were proficient in at least one official language in 2021.
- 76% of economic immigrants were employed 3 years after landing.
- Immigrant retention rate in nominating province: 85% after 5 years for PNP.
- 65% of immigrants improve language skills within 4 years.
- Homeownership rate for immigrants after 10 years: 70%.
- University-educated immigrants' underemployment rate: 30% in first year.
- 82% of Canadian Experience Class immigrants retain jobs post-PR.
- Francophone immigrants outside Quebec: 88% satisfaction with settlement.
- Refugee employment rate reaches 50% after 2 years.
- 40% of immigrants volunteer in communities within first year.
- Median income of immigrants after 5 years: $38,000 vs $42,000 Canadian-born.
- 92% of permanent residents plan to stay permanently.
- Credential recognition improves employment by 15% for immigrants.
- Intermarriage rate: 20% of immigrants marry Canadian-born.
- 70% of refugees access settlement services within 6 months.
- Atlantic immigrants retention: 92% after 5 years.
- 55% of immigrants feel attached to Canada after 4 years.
- Language training enrolments: 200,000 annually.
- PNP immigrants' unemployment rate: 6.5% after 3 years.
Integration and Outcomes Interpretation
While Canada's newcomers demonstrate admirable resilience through high homeownership, community volunteerism, and improving language skills, the persistent gaps in credential recognition and underemployment reveal a system that successfully welcomes immigrants but must still work to fully unlock their potential.
Program Breakdowns
- Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program selected 42% of 2022 economic immigrants.
- Provincial Nominee Program accounted for 20% of permanent residents in 2022.
- Family reunification class made up 19% of 2022 admissions.
- Canadian Experience Class issued 33,700 invitations in 2023.
- Start-up Visa Program admitted 1,288 entrepreneurs since 2013.
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot has approved 5,500 applications since 2022.
- Atlantic Immigration Program welcomed 8,000 immigrants since 2017.
- 45% of 2023 Express Entry draws were category-based, targeting healthcare and trades.
- Spouse/common-law partner sponsorships totaled 52,000 in 2022.
- Parent and Grandparent Program invited 35,700 for 2023 lottery.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program had CRS cutoff of 388 in 2023 draws.
- Study-to-PR pathway targeted 90,000 transitions in 2023-2025.
- Intra-company transfer work permits: 90% renewal rate.
- Refugee resettlement via private sponsorship: 8,500 in 2022.
- Quebec Skilled Worker Program admits 25,000 annually.
- Global Talent Stream processed 90% of applications in 2 weeks in 2023.
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot issued 2,770 PRs since 2019.
- Agri-Food Pilot approved 2,700 PR applications by 2023.
- 67% of PNP immigrants were from Express Entry-aligned streams in 2022.
Program Breakdowns Interpretation
Canada’s immigration system appears to be a masterfully balanced portfolio, where skilled workers are the blue-chip stocks, family reunification is the steady dividend, and targeted programs like healthcare and trades are the strategic growth investments, all while provincial nominees and entrepreneurs add crucial diversification to the national ledger.
Sources & References
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- Reference 14CMHC-SCHLcmhc-schl.gc.caVisit source