Immigration shapes Canada’s workforce, communities, and public services—from international students and temporary foreign workers to people pursuing permanent residence. This page maps the main pathways, including Express Entry, provincial nominations, family sponsorship, and refugee resettlement, and explains what affects outcomes like education, language ability, and professional credentials. You’ll also see the pressures behind today’s processing times and application backlogs, with regional examples such as Prince Edward Island.
Key Takeaways
- Canada welcomed 437,000 new permanent residents in 2022, surpassing the target of 431,000
- In 2021, 62% of immigrants aged 25-54 had a bachelor's degree or higher
- In 2022, Canada issued 44,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry
- The overall application backlog exceeded 2.1 million cases in December 2022
- Immigrants paid $1.9 billion in income taxes in 2020
- Immigrants accounted for 50% of the growth in Canada's health workforce between 2010 and 2020
- Immigrants contributed to 80% of Canada's labor force growth between 2016 and 2021
- Canada hosted 807,750 international students in 2022, a 31% increase from 2021
- 40.1% of international students who obtained a study permit between 2010 and 2019 transitioned to permanent residence within 10 years
- 1.4 million temporary foreign workers in Canada in 2022
- In 2022, Prince Edward Island issued 800 provincial nominations
- 23% of Canada's population was foreign-born in 2021, the highest among G7 countries
- 71% of immigrants aged 15 and older had a postsecondary credential in 2021
- 70% of immigrants aged 15-64 in 2021 had knowledge of English or French
- 34% of recent immigrants (2016-2021) were admitted through economic programs
Canada saw record immigration in 2022, but major application backlogs persist.
Related reading
01 · Category
International Students6 stats
01
Canada hosted 807,750 international students in 2022, a 31% increase from 2021[1]
02
40.1% of international students who obtained a study permit between 2010 and 2019 transitioned to permanent residence within 10 years[2]
03
1.4 million temporary foreign workers in Canada in 2022[2]
04
4.4 million non-permanent residents in Canada as of 2023[2]
05
30% of international students in Canada are from India (2023)[3]
06
20% of temporary residents became permanent residents within 5 years between 2016 and 2021[2]
Interpretation
International Students Interpretation
In 2022 Canada hosted 807,750 international students, and the data suggest their long-term pathway is strong since 40.1% of those who received a study permit from 2010 to 2019 went on to permanent residence within 10 years.
02 · Category
Immigrant Demographics5 stats
01
23% of Canada's population was foreign-born in 2021, the highest among G7 countries[4]
02
71% of immigrants aged 15 and older had a postsecondary credential in 2021[2]
03
70% of immigrants aged 15-64 in 2021 had knowledge of English or French[2]
04
40% of immigrants in 2021 had a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM)[2]
05
25% of immigrants in 2021 were between the ages of 20 and 29[2]
Interpretation
Immigrant Demographics Interpretation
Immigrant demographics in Canada show a strong pattern of education and working age newcomers, with 23% of the population foreign-born and, among immigrants, 71% holding a postsecondary credential, 70% reporting English or French knowledge, and 25% aged 20 to 29.
03 · Category
Economic Impact3 stats
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
From 2016 to 2021 immigrants drove 80% of Canada’s labor force growth, and in 2020 they also paid $1.9 billion in income taxes, underscoring their major economic contribution through both workforce expansion and tax revenue.
More related reading
04 · Category
Program Volumes3 stats
Interpretation
Program Volumes Interpretation
For program volumes, Canada’s immigration mix in recent years has leaned more heavily toward economic pathways, with 34% of immigrants from 2016 to 2021 admitted through economic programs and family sponsorship accounting for 15% in 2021, while refugee resettlement reached 40,000 in 2022 including 25,000 from Afghanistan.
05 · Category
Immigration Targets2 stats
Interpretation
Immigration Targets Interpretation
Canada exceeded its immigration target by welcoming 437,000 new permanent residents in 2022 against a 431,000 goal, while in 2021 62% of immigrants aged 25 to 54 held a bachelor’s degree or higher, reinforcing that the targets are being met with a notably skilled intake.
06 · Category
Overview11 stats
01
In 2022, Canada issued 44,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry[1]
02
The overall application backlog exceeded 2.1 million cases in December 2022[1]
03
75% of immigrants used an immigration consultant or lawyer when applying[2]
04
18 months standard processing time for family sponsorship applications in 2022[7]
05
In 2022, Prince Edward Island issued 800 provincial nominations[8]
06
2022: 44,000 Express Entry invitations were issued for permanent residence[9]
07
2021: 27,332 Express Entry invitations were issued for permanent residence[9]
08
2020: 107,350 Express Entry invitations were issued for permanent residence[9]
09
2019: 112,193 Express Entry invitations were issued for permanent residence[9]
10
2018: 103,000 Express Entry invitations were issued for permanent residence[9]
11
2017: 27,332 Express Entry invitations were issued for permanent residence[9]
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
In Canada’s Industry Overview for immigration, the pipeline is moving at scale but still under strain, as Express Entry issued 44,000 permanent residence invitations in 2022 and the overall backlog topped 2.1 million cases by December 2022.
report visual · Projection
Express Entry invitations (PR) — Canada
Express Entry invitations for permanent residence peaked in 2020 and then declined, with the 2022 level remaining below the 2020 high (leader: 2020; direction: down from the peak).
27.3K cases
Start
+9.99%
CAGR · 5y
44K cases
Projected
20202025
source-verifiedcanada.ca2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Canada Immigration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-immigration-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Canada Immigration Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/canada-immigration-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Canada Immigration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canada-immigration-statistics.
Sources & references
9 sources cited across this report