Note to readers

The estimates released today are based on 2011 Census counts adjusted for census net undercoverage and incompletely enumerated Indian reserves, to which the estimated population growth for the period from May 10, 2011 to the estimate date is added.

These estimates are not to be confused with the 2016 Census population counts that were released on February 8, 2017.

Upcoming releases

Starting with the next release, the population estimates for Canada, the provinces and territories will be based on 2016 Census population counts adjusted for census net undercoverage and incompletely enumerated Indian reserves. Population estimates for the second quarter of 2018 and the annual demographic estimates (from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018) for the total population will be released on September 27. Exceptionally this year, annual demographic estimates (from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018) for the population by sex and age group will be released on December 13.

Definitions

For the purpose of calculating rates, the denominator is the average population during the period (the average of the start-of-period and end-of-period populations). These are quarterly rates. For the sake of brevity, the terms growth, population growth and population growth rate share the same meaning, a quarterly population growth rate.

Natural increase is the difference between the number of births and deaths.

Net international migration basically refers to the total number of moves between Canada and abroad that result in a change in the usual place of residence. It is calculated by adding immigrants, returning emigrants and net non-permanent residents, then subtracting emigrants and net temporary emigration.

An immigrant refers to a person who is or has been a landed immigrant (permanent resident) and who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Immigrants are either Canadian citizens by naturalization (the citizenship process) or permanent residents under Canadian legislation. Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others have arrived recently. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number are born in Canada. Also, children born in other countries to parents who are Canadian citizens who are temporarily residing in another country are not included in the category as they are Canadian citizens at birth. The terms immigrant, landed immigrant and permanent resident are equivalent.

A non-permanent resident is a person lawfully in Canada on a temporary basis under the authority of a valid document (work permit, study permit, ministerial permit or refugee card) issued for that person along with members of their family living with them. This group also includes individuals who seek refugee status upon or after their arrival in Canada and remain in the country pending the outcome of processes relative to their claim. Note that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada uses the term temporary resident rather than non-permanent resident.