Canada's foreign-born share reached 23 percent. That figure leads all G7 countries. The statistics detail admission volumes, processing backlogs, and immigrant contributions to labor force growth.
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 welcomed more than 437,000 permanent residents in 2022 as demand outpaced capacity and backlogs grew.
Related reading
01 · Category
Immigration Targets2 stats
01
Canada welcomed 437,000 new permanent residents in 2022, surpassing the target of 431,000
02
In 2021, 62% of immigrants aged 25-54 had a bachelor's degree or higher
02 · Category
Application Processing2 stats
01
In 2022, Canada issued 44,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry
02
The overall application backlog exceeded 2.1 million cases in December 2022
Interpretation
Application Processing Interpretation
Despite issuing 44,000 invitations for permanent residence in 2022, Canada’s immigration system struggled under the weight of a backlog exceeding 2.1 million cases, revealing a widening gap between invitations and processing capacity.
03 · Category
Economic Impact3 stats
01
Immigrants paid $1.9 billion in income taxes in 2020
02
Immigrants accounted for 50% of the growth in Canada's health workforce between 2010 and 2020
03
Immigrants contributed to 80% of Canada's labor force growth between 2016 and 2021
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
The economic impact of immigration is powerfully underscored by the fact that immigrants contributed to 80% of Canada's labor force growth between 2016 and 2021, making them the primary engine of the country's workforce expansion.
04 · Category
International Students6 stats
01
Canada hosted 807,750 international students in 2022, a 31% increase from 2021
02
40.1% of international students who obtained a study permit between 2010 and 2019 transitioned to permanent residence within 10 years
03
1.4 million temporary foreign workers in Canada in 2022
04
4.4 million non-permanent residents in Canada as of 2023
05
30% of international students in Canada are from India (2023)
06
20% of temporary residents became permanent residents within 5 years between 2016 and 2021
Interpretation
International Students Interpretation
The growing importance of international students to Canada’s long-term population is underscored by the fact that 40.1% of those who received a study permit between 2010 and 2019 went on to become permanent residents within a decade.
More related reading
05 · Category
Provincial Nominee1 stats
01
In 2022, Prince Edward Island issued 800 provincial nominations
Interpretation
Provincial Nominee Interpretation
In 2022, Prince Edward Island issued 800 provincial nominations, underscoring how smaller provinces are leveraging the Provincial Nominee Program to attract targeted immigrants despite their limited population size.
06 · Category
Immigrant Demographics5 stats
01
23% of Canada's population was foreign-born in 2021, the highest among G7 countries
02
71% of immigrants aged 15 and older had a postsecondary credential in 2021
03
70% of immigrants aged 15-64 in 2021 had knowledge of English or French
04
40% of immigrants in 2021 had a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM)
05
25% of immigrants in 2021 were between the ages of 20 and 29
Interpretation
Immigrant Demographics Interpretation
With 71 percent of immigrants aged 15 and older holding a postsecondary credential in 202
07 · Category
Program Volumes3 stats
01
34% of recent immigrants (2016-2021) were admitted through economic programs
02
40,000 refugees resettled in 2022, including 25,000 from Afghanistan
03
15% of immigrants in 2021 were admitted through family sponsorship
08 · Category
Processing & Backlogs2 stats
01
75% of immigrants used an immigration consultant or lawyer when applying
02
18 months standard processing time for family sponsorship applications in 2022
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
24 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)