Canada's Population Declines for Second Straight Quarter

Canada's population declined for the second consecutive quarter, dropping by 103,504 people from October 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026, according to preliminary estimates released by Statistics Canada. The figure brings the national total to 41,472,081 as of January 1, 2026, marking the first back-to-back quarterly decreases on record and a departure from the rapid growth seen in previous years.

The decline stems primarily from a sharp reduction in nonpermanent residents, which include international students, temporary foreign workers and asylum claimants. Their numbers fell by 171,296 during the period, affecting every province and Yukon territory. Statistics Canada attributes this to fewer new arrivals and departures among those holding study permits, work permits or both. As of January 31, 2026, Canada had 460,695 people with study permits, 1,481,590 with work permits and 234,770 with dual permits. New student arrivals totaled 7,040 in January 2026, a 37 percent decrease from the previous year, while new worker arrivals reached 11,850, down 20 percent.

This trend follows policy measures introduced by the federal government to curb the influx of temporary residents and promote...