About 21.9% of Total Canada Population is Made up of Immigrants claims StatsCan

In 2011, the immigrant population in Canada was approximately 20.6 per cent, and this number has risen to 21.9 per cent as of this year. This information was provided by StatsCan, which keeps an eye on more than just the Canadian population.

StatsCan gathered information through surveys in the past year’s census. By immigrants, it means people who have lived in Canada and become permanent citizens of Canada through naturalisation.

The last time the immigrant population to Canada was this high was in 1921, accounting for 22.3 per cent of the immigrant population.

Taking today’s Canadian population facts, about 7.5 million immigrants are settled in the country. About half of this immigrant Canadian population is settled in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

Considering the rapid growth of the immigrant population, the country’s graph estimates that the immigrant population will reach 30 per cent by 2036.

Over the past few years, the leading source countries of immigrants to Canada were Europe and the United States; however, this source has now shifted to many Asian countries. The latest statistics reveal that 61.8 per cent of recent immigrants to Canada were from Asian countries (Including the Middle East).

Out of the top 10 source immigrant countries, the top seven consist of Asian countries, including the Philippines, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Syria and South Korea.

Surprisingly, the recent immigration report found that Africa managed to rank ahead of Europe. A total share of 13.4 per cent of the immigrant population in Canada is from Africa. The top African countries contributing to this share are Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon.

The census report also stated that more than three in five Canadian immigrants utilised the economic programs. Immigrants arriving through economic programs constitute 60.3 per cent of the total immigrant population.

A further 26.8 per cent of the remaining immigrant population arrived under the family class, either being sponsored by a spouse, close relative, or common-law partner, and 11.6 per cent of the rest of the Canadian population were refugees.

The Canadian government welcomes economic immigrants to Canada, as these candidates demonstrate their ability to integrate into the Canadian labour market. In January 2015, Canada’s economic immigration system transitioned to a more streamlined and versatile system called Express Entry.

The Express Entry allows the government to invite eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence on a priority basis. Unlike economic immigration, which operates on a first-come, first-served basis, Express Entry prioritises applications.

Notably, this year has been marked as the most successful year in terms of Express Entry immigration. The Express Entry system uses a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which evaluates candidates based on their work and education qualifications. This means Canada can easily welcome a large number of qualified immigration prospects from within and outside the country.

Mostly, newcomers to Canada choose to settle in one of the three largest cities: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. In the year 2016, 46.1 per cent of Toronto’s population was made up of immigrants, 23.4 per cent of Montreal’s and 40.8 per cent of Vancouver’s.

However, cities like Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are receiving a higher proportion of immigration. Other cities, such as Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, and Edmonton, have also witnessed an incredible increase in the number of immigrants settling there due to employment opportunities and high living standards.

The Atlantic Canada region, comprising New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island, has also seen a notable increase in interest from newcomers.

Ontario remains the most popular province for recent migrants. In 2001, approximately 55.9 per cent of immigrants resided there. This number has gone down to 39 per cent as of now. Newcomers are now wisely choosing their destination, as permanent residency allows immigrants to settle anywhere in Canada, offering them employment and high living standards.

Despite the fact that immigrant percentage has decreased in Ontario, the province still has been witnessing a tremendous population growth. After Ontario, most immigrants aim for Quebec. After Quebec, British Columbia (BC) is the most sought-after destination for immigrants.

Immigrants in Canada have the opportunity to become citizens of Canada. The new tweaks and changes to the Citizenship Act make it significantly quicker and easier for permanent residents to become citizens.