In the latest census data released by Statistics Canada, immigrants make up the largest share of the population in over 150 years.

The report states, “In 2021, more than 8.3 million people, or almost one-quarter (23.0%) of the population, were, or had ever been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada. This was the largest proportion since Confederation, topping the previous 1921 record of 22.3 per cent, and the highest among the G7.”

From 2016 to 2021, immigrants accounted for four-fifths of labour force growth. In the same time frame, Canada’s population living in private households grew by 5.4 per cent, and new, or recent, immigrants accounted for 71.1 per cent of that growth. The report also forecasts that if the trends continue, immigrants could represent from 29.1 per cent of the population of Canada by 2041.

Asia, including the Middle East, remained the continent of birth for most recent immigrants at 62 per cent.

Almost one in five recent immigrants, or 18.6 per cent, were born in India, making it the leading country of birth for recent immigration to Canada.

In contrast, the share of recent immigrants from Europe continued to decline, falling from 61.6 per cent in 1971 to 10.1 per cent in 2021.