Canada has record low population growth
The pandemic has affected both immigration and mortality.
According to Statistics Canada, Canada saw its lowest population growth in 2020 since 1916 — the time of World War I. The population grew by just 0.4% for the year — about a quarter of the growth for 2019.
"With most of Canada's growth coming from immigration (86% in 2019), restrictions on international travel have had a major impact on population growth," Statistics Canada said in a statement.
Immigrants and temporary residents
For 2019, Canada welcomed about 341,000 people and in 2020, only 187,000 — the lowest number since 1998.
"This has long-term implications," says Anne Triandafyllidou, head of the Canadian Migration and Integration Research Centre. — Canada needs the demographic and socioeconomic stimulus of immigration. The economy is growing and will continue to grow after the pandemic, so immigrants are very important.
Not only did fewer people immigrate to Canada in 2020 — many also left the country. The number of non-permanent residents — those who come to Canada temporarily, such as on a work visa — fell by more than 86,000 over the year, while it increased by nearly 191,000 in 2019. Triandafillidou notes that many temporary residents worked in transportation and tourism. Because those industries were hit by the pandemic, workers had to quit their jobs and go home.
Mortality
While immigration was low in 2020, deaths, on the other hand, were high and even record high. There were more than 300,000 deaths in a year in Canada. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, COVID-19 caused one in 20 deaths.
