Canada’s population declines slightly in first quarter of 2026 as non-permanent resident numbers fall

Canada’s population declined slightly during the first three months of 2026, according to new estimates released by Statistics Canada.

The agency estimated the country’s population at 41,417,056 as of April 1, a decrease of 55,025 people, or 0.1 per cent, compared with Jan. 1. Statistics Canada attributed the decline largely to a reduction in the number of non-permanent residents.

According to Statistics Canada, the preliminary number of non-permanent residents fell by 117,879 during the first quarter of 2026. That compares with a decline of 55,194 during the same period a year earlier.

The agency reported that Canada welcomed 83,149 permanent immigrants between January and March, down from 104,210 in the first quarter of 2025. Net emigration totalled 20,140 people during the quarter, compared with 19,961 a year earlier.

Statistics Canada also reported a negative natural increase of 155 people during the quarter, meaning the number of deaths exceeded the number of births. In the first quarter of 2025, natural increase stood at 983.