Statistics Canada population revisions show 300,000 more residents

Substantial revisions to Statistics Canada’s population estimates indicate that Canada’s population is approximately 300,000 people higher than previously reported. These updates, which reach back to late 2021, overturn earlier data that suggested the country was experiencing consecutive quarters of population decline.

The revised figures show a modest year-over-year population growth of 0.5% as of early 2026, a reversal from the previously reported 0.5% decline. This shift is largely attributed to more accurate tracking of net non-permanent residents. By incorporating additional data from the Canada Border Services Agency and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, officials better accounted for temporary residents who remained in the country while awaiting permit extensions.

Analysts suggest these revisions change the understanding of the Canadian rental market. While previous data suggested falling rents were driven by a shrinking population, the updated figures indicate that increased housing supply is the primary driver of softening rental prices. However, experts warn that if falling rents make new projects unviable, the housing pipeline could slow, potentially leading to future shortages.