Canada’s population growth slowed dramatically in the second quarter of 2025, rising just 0.1%—the lowest non-pandemic second-quarter rate since 1946, according to Statistics Canada. This near standstill comes after years of record expansion, when the population grew by about one million people annually between 2022 and early 2025. The recent slowdown is attributed to stricter immigration policies, leading to a significant decline in new non-permanent residents. With Canada’s average age now at 41.8 and nearly one in five citizens over 65, experts warn that a diminishing working-age population could limit economic potential unless targeted measures are implemented.
Canada’s population growth stalls at a historic low in 2025
