Canada’s population grew faster in 2008

The population of Canada grew by 0.39 percent in the third quarter of 2008, which is the highest quarterly growth rate since 1990.

The population of Canada grew by 0.39 percent in the third quarter of 2008, which is the highest quarterly growth rate since 1990.

As on the 1st of October, 2008, the population of Canada was an estimated 33, 441, 3000, up by 129,900 from July 1. Except the Northwest Territories, population rose in every province and territory.

The pace of the population growth of Canada was faster than in the same quarter of 2007 as a result of an increase in net international migration, which set a third quarter record of 89,100. This upward movement in the net international migration was due to an increase in the number of temporary residents. While emigration as well as immigration remained relatively steady, the number of temporary residents grew by 32,400, which is the largest third-quarter increase since the year 1988.

During the third quarter of 2008, 71,300 immigrants entered Canada, which is slightly fewer than previous year’s figure during the third quarter.

Canada’s growth of natural increase also remained stable in the third-quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, with similar pace in the increase in number of births and deaths.

Demographic growth remained at a high in Western Canada. Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Yukon all had higher growth rates than the national level. Towards the East of Manitoba, only Prince Edward Island outpaced the national level.

Compared with the same period in 2007, net international migration in most provinces and territories was up in the third quarter.

For the fourth consecutive quarter, Alberta led all other provinces in demographic growth, posting a rate nearly twice the national rate with 0.72 percent. The growth of the province was mainly attributed to the resurgence in inter-provincial migration and a strong increase of non-permanent residents. The rate of growth of Alberta in non-permanent residents has been the highest of all provinces after the fourth quarter of 2006.

The highest net inter-provincial migration rate in Canada in the third quarter is of Saskatchewan. The population of Saskatchewan has been growing at a faster rate than the national level since the second quarter of the year 2007. All Atlantic Provinces has also posted demographic increase.

In Eastern Canada, all Atlantic Provinces have for the second consecutive quarter recorded population increases. Prince Edward continued to lead the region in terms of demographic increase with a rate of 0.67 percent, mainly as a result of the highest net international migration rate in Canada.