More than 7 million people live in the same metropolitan area for the first time in Canadian history. The population of Greater Toronto reaches 7,106,379 residents as of July 1, 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
After experiencing record growth of 268,911 people in a single year (+3.9%), the population of the RMR of Toronto has reached the milestone of 7 million
indicates Statistics Canada in its most recent report on regional population estimates.
To put these figures into perspective, the senior analyst at Statistics Canada’s Center for Demography, Sébastien Lavoie, points out that Canada as a whole from 2010 to 2020 had – on average – a growth of 400,000 people more or less per year, so 268,000 in Toronto in one year is very significant.
. Moreover, the metropolitan region now represents 44.1% of Ontario’s population.
Immigration in general, and the quantity of non-permanent residents in particular, is responsible for this sharp increase.
Paradoxically, despite a constantly increasing population, Torontonians have been leaving the Queen City at an accelerated pace in recent years.
Alberta, the promised land for Ontarians
Ontario is experiencing significant net losses in interprovincial migration, with a negative balance of 25,273 people in 2023-2024.
Ontario continues to see net losses in interprovincial migration, with more people leaving the province than coming. Alberta is the destination of choice in these cases
explains Mr. Lavoie.
| Region | Net interprovincial migration |
|---|---|
| Alberta | +43 750 |
| Calgary (RMR) | +20 859 |
| New Brunswick | +2 803 |
| Nova Scotia | +2 252 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | +598 |
| Prince Edward Island | +82 |
| British Columbia | -9 199 |
| Vancouver (RMR) | -5 709 |
| Saskatchewan | -5 239 |
| Manitoba | -4 540 |
| Winnipeg (RMR) | -3 679 |
| Québec | -4 105 |
| Montreal (CMA) | -6 667 |
| Ontario | -25 273 |
| Toronto (RMR) | -9 819 |
| Territories | -1 129 |
Source: Statistics Canada
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Indeed, Alberta stands out as the big winner. Alberta was the destination of choice for movers: the province saw net gains of 43,750 people from interprovincial migration over the past year
underlines Statistics Canada.
The two main Alberta cities particularly benefit: in 2024, Calgary welcomed 20,859 new residents from other provinces and Edmonton received 13,893, their highest net earnings in over 20 years
specifies the federal agency.
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International immigration largely offsets departures
Despite these departures, the Greater Toronto Area continues to grow thanks to two main factors: international immigration, which brought 128,511 new residents, and non-permanent residents, who total 213,093 people.
GRAND TORONTO
| Components of growth (2023-2024) | Number of people |
|---|---|
| Births | +61 537 |
| Death | -42 348 |
| Total natural growth | +19 189 |
| Immigration | +128 511 |
| Emigration | -12 541 |
| Interprovincial migration | -9 819 |
| Migration intraprovinciale | -69 522 |
| Non-permanent residents | +213 093 |
| Total growth | +268 911 |
| Population en 2023 | 6 837 468 |
| Population en 2024 | 7 106 379 |
Source: Statistics Canada
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-The main source of population growth of the Big Three RMR — Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver — was the increase in the number of non-permanent residents
confirms Statistics Canada.
Many more men
Ontario has a notable gender imbalance in its workforce: there are 131,661 more men than women in the 15-64 age group. This change contrasts with the situation in 2014, where there were 61,034 more women than men in this same age group.
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Ontario has 131,661 more men than women in its working age population. (Archive photo)
Photo : iStock / william87
Immigration statistics for 2023-2024 reflect this trend: Ontario welcomed 179,943 immigrant men compared to 164,650 immigrant women, a gap of 9.3%. These differences are similar to those of previous years: 8.4% in 2022-2023 and 9.0% in 2021-2022.
There is also a preference, immigrants tend to be more male. I believe this may also be the case for non-permanent residents
note M. Lavoie.
Toronto, younger
The age structure of the Greater Toronto population differs significantly from the rest of Ontario. People aged 65 and over represent only 16% of the GTA population, compared to 25.2% in the rest of the province.
Immigrants and non-permanent residents are younger than the average Canadian. In fact, it has had the effect of reducing in recent years the average age observed for the entire Canadian population.
explains the analyst.
[L’immigration] slows down the aging of the population by bringing in this younger population.
Add Quebec in full, and even more
Between 2014 and 2024, Greater Toronto experienced remarkable growth, adding 1,109,438 residents to go from 5,996,941 to 7,106,379 residents. It’s a bit as if the entire population of the urban region of Quebec (900,343) moved to the Ontario capital.
To put these numbers into perspective, the entire province of Quebec has barely passed 9 million people. Toronto itself is now at 7 million
compare M. Lavoie.
However, the analyst predicts a slowdown in this growth: The final year through June 2024 is actually expected to be […] the peak, the maximum growth that we should observe for Canada, for large cities
.
This forecast is explained in particular by recent announcements from the federal government concerning the reduction in the number of non-permanent residents: It should continue to slow down for at least the next two years, barring any potential policy changes at the federal level.
he concludes.
With information from Rozenn Nicolle
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