Statistics Canada, a tool that models real-time growth using factors such as births, deaths and immigration, predicted the number would only be achieved on Friday, June 16.
“This is an exciting milestone for the country. It is a strong sign that it continues to be a dynamic, welcoming region full of potential. As we approach Canada Day (July 1), this is definitely cause for celebration,” Chief Statistics Officer Anil Arora said of the event.
The source pointed out that the North American country leads in population growth within the Group of Seven, which also consists of Germany, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
He indicated that the country added more than a million people between January 2021 and 2022, which is the largest number in one year, and that the population increase in 2022, amounting to 2.7 percent, is the highest since 1957, when it was 3.3 percent.
Based on current projections, StatCan estimates that Canada could reach 50 million by 2043, sooner than previously expected.
Permanent and temporary migration are largely driving the latter trend: both accounted for 96 percent of total growth in 2022.
All provinces and territories except the Northwest Territories experienced an increase in their populations last year.
The country’s Indigenous population also grew by 9.4 percent between 2016 and 2021, much faster than the 5.3 percent rate among non-Indigenous Canadians during the same period.
Indigenous peoples in Canada made up five percent of the country’s population in 2021.
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