Annual change in population in Canada
Canada: Annual change in population was 477,839 people in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
477,839 people
Change on year
up 30.1%
World rank
42nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
487,938 people
in 2019
All-time low
248,401 people
in 1978
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Canada, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual change in population in Canada stood at 477,839 people.
That represents a change of up 30.1% on the previous year and up 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Canada peaked at 487,938 people in 2019 and was at its lowest, 248,401 people, in 1978.
That places Canada 42nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Annual change in population in Canada, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 341,558 people | — |
| 1952 | 399,501 people | +17.0% |
| 1953 | 415,078 people | +3.9% |
| 1954 | 421,110 people | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 409,294 people | -2.8% |
| 1956 | 431,340 people | +5.4% |
| 1957 | 481,708 people | +11.7% |
| 1958 | 462,762 people | -3.9% |
| 1959 | 411,431 people | -11.1% |
| 1960 | 383,271 people | -6.8% |
| 1961 | 364,285 people | -5.0% |
| 1962 | 350,519 people | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 350,661 people | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 357,412 people | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 363,847 people | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 368,150 people | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 355,109 people | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 325,397 people | -8.4% |
| 1969 | 303,447 people | -6.7% |
| 1970 | 402,402 people | +32.6% |
| 1971 | 455,672 people | +13.2% |
| 1972 | 335,182 people | -26.4% |
| 1973 | 281,353 people | -16.1% |
| 1974 | 311,856 people | +10.8% |
| 1975 | 324,896 people | +4.2% |
| 1976 | 306,802 people | -5.6% |
| 1977 | 274,558 people | -10.5% |
| 1978 | 248,401 people | -9.5% |
| 1979 | 258,431 people | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 296,606 people | +14.8% |
| 1981 | 311,198 people | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 295,187 people | -5.1% |
| 1983 | 272,441 people | -7.7% |
| 1984 | 257,771 people | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 257,087 people | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 283,573 people | +10.3% |
| 1987 | 329,877 people | +16.3% |
| 1988 | 387,025 people | +17.3% |
| 1989 | 438,108 people | +13.2% |
| 1990 | 423,391 people | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 367,717 people | -13.1% |
| 1992 | 342,912 people | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 330,569 people | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 316,748 people | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 311,755 people | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 308,072 people | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 291,878 people | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 270,883 people | -7.2% |
| 1999 | 269,487 people | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 292,342 people | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 321,778 people | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 322,001 people | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 300,904 people | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 296,197 people | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 307,492 people | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 319,002 people | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 332,997 people | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 356,917 people | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 377,282 people | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 370,530 people | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 358,549 people | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 367,064 people | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 370,908 people | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 340,844 people | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 327,971 people | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 391,109 people | +19.3% |
| 2017 | 455,153 people | +16.4% |
| 2018 | 486,498 people | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 487,938 people | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 388,969 people | -20.3% |
| 2021 | 282,155 people | -27.5% |
| 2022 | 367,201 people | +30.1% |
| 2023 | 477,839 people | +30.1% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 477,839 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people, 151.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 419,309 people | 341,558 people | 481,708 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 352,210 people | 303,447 people | 383,271 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 319,955 people | 248,401 people | 455,672 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 312,887 people | 257,087 people | 438,108 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 323,341 people | 269,487 people | 423,391 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 322,691 people | 292,342 people | 377,282 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 395,656 people | 327,971 people | 487,938 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 379,041 people | 282,155 people | 477,839 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 39 Malawi 535,749 people compare
- 40 Burkina Faso 516,739 people compare
- 41 United Kingdom 503,650 people compare
- 43 South Sudan 462,195 people compare
- 44 Germany 462,006 people compare
- 45 Malaysia 430,801 people compare
More population data for Canada
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2634 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 45,891 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7644 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.3863 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Population density 6.1 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.33 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Canada?
- Annual change in population in Canada was 477,839 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 487,938 people in 2019.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 248,401 people in 1978.
- How does Canada rank for annual change in population?
- Canada ranks 42nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.