Natural population growth rate in Canada
Canada: Natural population growth rate was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Natural population growth rate in Canada, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for natural population growth rate in Canada is 0.1%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 161.6% on the previous year and down 68.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, natural population growth rate in Canada peaked at 1.9% in 1954 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2022.
Canada ranks 167th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Natural population growth rate in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.7% | — |
| 1951 | 1.7% | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 1.8% | +5.1% |
| 1953 | 1.9% | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 1.9% | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 1.9% | -2.0% |
| 1956 | 1.9% | -1.3% |
| 1957 | 1.9% | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 1.9% | -0.9% |
| 1959 | 1.9% | -1.0% |
| 1960 | 1.8% | -2.4% |
| 1961 | 1.8% | -3.4% |
| 1962 | 1.7% | -4.5% |
| 1963 | 1.6% | -4.5% |
| 1964 | 1.5% | -5.3% |
| 1965 | 1.3% | -14.3% |
| 1966 | 1.1% | -13.8% |
| 1967 | 1.0% | -8.5% |
| 1968 | 1.0% | -5.4% |
| 1969 | 1.0% | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 0.9% | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 0.9% | -6.3% |
| 1972 | 0.8% | -10.4% |
| 1973 | 0.8% | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 0.8% | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 0.8% | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 0.8% | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | +6.1% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -9.8% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -4.6% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -7.6% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -10.0% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -14.0% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | -8.1% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | +11.4% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -6.6% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -16.2% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -12.7% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -40.4% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | +15.7% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | -71.3% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | +161.6% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 0.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Natural population growth rate in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +161.6% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2022 | -71.3% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| 2020 | -40.4% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.4% | 1.0% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 164 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.2% compare
- 165 Macao 0.2% compare
- 166 Norway 0.1% compare
- 168 Switzerland 0.1% compare
- 169 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 0.1% compare
- 170 Wallis and Futuna 0.1% compare
More population data for Canada
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2634 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.33 million people (2100)
- Population density 6.1 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.3863 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7644 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is natural population growth rate in Canada?
- Natural population growth rate in Canada was 0.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest natural population growth rate recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 1.9% in 1954.
- What is the lowest natural population growth rate recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2022.
- How does Canada rank for natural population growth rate?
- Canada ranks 167th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is natural population growth rate rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Natural population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Births minus deaths, as a share of the population. This is the part of population change that comes only from births and deaths, ignoring migration.