Population of Canada
(Real-Time Model)
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Population Change Since Midnight
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Century Initiative is a registered charity composed of a diverse group of Canadians from business, academia, and the nonprofit sector.
Our mission is to ensure long-term, responsible economic growth for Canada by advocating for a national smart growth framework. This means aligning immigration with strategic investments in housing, infrastructure, and public services.
Efforts to mischaracterize our work are politically opportunistic and do a disservice to voters. We remain committed to facts, informed policy, and Canada’s future.
By 2036, seniors are projected to make up around a quarter of Canada’s population.
In 2018, Canada's fertility rate was 1.5 - well below the 2.1 rate required to keep the population steady.
We have a crashing dependency ratio: fewer working people supporting more older people, and COVID-19 is exacerbating the issue.
Studies predict that, if we stay the course on population, our GDP growth will be only 1.6% in 2100 at 53.7 million people. But with 100 million people, we could reach a healthier 2.6%.
A bigger population would give us a dynamic and robust domestic market, with more global talent to drive innovation and fill new jobs.
A bigger Canada is a more influential Canada; a bigger population means a stronger economy to better protect our interests.
Globally, we are seeing a rise in nationalism, populism and anti-immigrant sentiment.
Canada is known for its openness to immigration as well as a culture of multiculturalism and diversity. We recognize the economic and social contributions that immigrants make that we all benefit from.
Together, we can reinforce our reputation as an influential force for good in a turbulent world.
Our population growth is tied to our quality of life. If we have more people, we have a larger workforce and we create more economic activity. This means more potential tax dollars we could use to maintain and improve social services, including healthcare and income security programs; and needed infrastructure.
If we are shrinking, we are not going to be able to advance our economic interests in a rapidly changing global system.
COVID-19 has taught us that our prosperity is fragile. The decisions and actions we take now will determine whether Canada continues to grow and prosper in the decades to come.
That’s where Century Initiative comes in. We advocate for policies to increase Canada’s population to 100 million by 2100. And we support the long-term thinking and planning required to manage this growth well – ensuring a high quality of life and standard of living for all Canadians.
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The world is changing at an incredibly rapid pace, and Canada is falling behind. We’re on track for a 53% decline in annual real GDP growth, and our population will only be 53 million by the year 2100. This puts us outside of the top 45 countries and in a precarious position: an aging population, an endangered infrastructure, and diminished international clout.
100 million isn’t an arbitrary number. It’s the population we need for Canada to remain a prosperous and diverse society with relevance on the international stage.
Population of Canada
(Real-Time Model)
Population Change Since Midnight
Advocate for a big and bold vision for Canada – and the policies and priorities that will create the conditions for Canada to thrive and grow well into the future.
Educate Canadians about the importance of smart population growth, and about the need to ensure the benefits of growth are widely shared.
Partner with researchers and practitioners to fill the relevant policy and program gaps, and to inform decision-making.
Convene stakeholders from across sectors to generate knowledge, inform policy, and raise awareness of our vision and mission for Canada.
Advocate for a big and bold vision for Canada – and the policies and priorities that will create the conditions for Canada to thrive and grow well into the future.
Educate Canadians about the importance of smart population growth, and about the need to ensure the benefits of growth are widely shared.
Partner with researchers and practitioners to fill the relevant policy and program gaps, and to inform decision-making.
Convene stakeholders from across sectors to generate knowledge, inform policy, and raise awareness of our vision and mission for Canada.
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