Brief Introduction to the Demographics of Canadian Immigrants

Canada is among the most immigration-friendly countries and has been affected hugely in terms of demographic change.

The section of immigrants in Canada’s growing population has reached to 21.9 percent in 2016 from 20.6 percent in 2011. The part of demographic included for the study was the erstwhile immigrants, and now naturalized citizens of Canada. A condition as such happened last time in 1921 when 22.4 percent of the national population was immigrant population. Government statistics project that the dividend might reach 30 percent by 2036, which has been deemed necessary owing to the aging people of the nation.

In today’s date, nearly 7.5 million immigrants live in Canada of which more than half are settled in top cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. The immigrants make up 46.1 percent of Toronto’s population, 23.4 percent of Montreal’s and 40.8 percent of that of Vancouver.

Shift in source countries of immigrants

Apart from that, the source countries of immigrants have changed significantly as well. While during early and middle 20th century, immigrants were from Europe and USA, current immigrants usually belong to countries like Philippines, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea and Syria. In modern times, the share of immigrants from African nations is even more than those from Europe.

According to the census, nearly 60% of immigrants between 2011 and 2016 were via the economic program, and 26% arrived via Family Class. 25% of the immigrants, in 2016, were refugees, a rise owing to the Syrian crisis.

Reasons leading to immigrant shift from top three cities of Canada

Express Entry, Canadian government’s, new approach to provide hassle-free entry to the more talented immigrants has been successful. The comprehensive ranking system enables the government to allow quality immigrants access to Canada. Implementation of Provincial Nominee Program has helped the government to decongest the top three cities of the immigrants and divert its benefits to the other provinces. In this new trend of immigration, now, they have started moving up to provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and PEI.

In the present time, Ontario is the popular province for the immigrants. 39% of total immigrants reside there, but it has fallen drastically from 55.9% in 2001. The second most popular destination for the same is Quebec (up from 13.7% in 2001 to 17.8% now), whereas British Colombia has seen a decrease from 19% in 2001 to 14% now.

Wrapping up

In present demographics, nearly forty percent of Canadians come from an immigrant background, from first-generation or second-generation immigrants. The success of Canada in the international arena as a multicultural and multiethnic nation is a perfect specimen representing how to get over ethnonationalism in favor of growth, openness, and modernity.

With settlements of immigrants in scarcely populated areas, there is potential for both economic as well as social well-being of the community residing there and the migrants as well.

For individuals willing to migrate to Canada in the future, have all the reasons to be satisfied and apply for the same. With new citizenship law, getting a Canadian citizenship has never been easier. With the presence of several immigration services providers and consultancy services, immigration to Canada is getting simpler day by day.