Ontario Demographic Quarterly: Highlights of first quarter
Learn about key facts and figures of the province's demographics for the first quarter of 2022.
Population growth
Ontario’s population reached 15,007,816 on April 1, 2022, with a increase of 55,991 people during the first quarter of 2022. This compares to an increase of 36,452 people recorded in the same quarter of 2021.
| Thousands | |
|---|---|
| Population, January 1, 2022 | 14,951.8 |
| Plus Births | 34.3 |
| Minus Deaths | 33.2 |
| Plus Immigrants | 50.6 |
| Minus Emigrants * | 7.1 |
| Plus Net Change in Non-Permanent Residents | 23.0 |
| Plus Interprovincial Arrivals | 15.4 |
| Minus Interprovincial Departures | 26.9 |
| Population, April 1, 2022 | 15,007.8 |
*Emigrants plus net change in temporary emigrants minus returning Canadians.
Source: Statistics Canada.
Births and deaths
There were 34,285 births during the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 2.2% from the same quarter of 2021. The number of deaths increased by 10.0% to reach 33,183.
Natural increase (births minus deaths) was 1,102 in the quarter, down from 3,396 in the same quarter of 2021.
International migration
Immigration to Ontario was 50,589 in the first quarter, up from 34,984 in the same quarter of 2021. Ontario received 44.5% of all immigrants to Canada in the quarter, a decrease from 49.6% in the same quarter of 2021. During the past year to March 31, Ontario received 214,135 immigrants, up sharply from 85,625 in the previous year.
There were 7,119 emigrants in the first quarter, compared to 4,283 during the same quarter of 2021. Ontario accounted for 46.4% of all emigration from Canada in the quarter.
The number of non‑permanent residents in Ontario (NPRs – i.e. international students, foreign workers, and refugee claimants) increased by 22,985 to about 625,000 by April 1.
Overall, there was a net international migration gain of 66,455 in the first quarter, up from a net gain of 38,943 in the same quarter of 2021.
Components of population growth, Q1 2022 and average for 2017-2021
* Includes emigrants plus net change in temporary emigrants minus returning Canadians.
Source: Statistics Canada.
Interprovincial migration
In the first quarter of 2022, Ontario saw a net interprovincial migration loss of 11,566 people to the rest of Canada, compared to a net loss of 5,887 people in the same quarter of 2021. Ontario experienced net gains in its exchanges with Manitoba (+111), and net losses with the other 11 provinces and territories. The largest net losses were to Alberta (-3,577), New Brunswick (-2,353), British Columbia (-2,022), and Nova Scotia (-1,582). During the past 12 months to March 31, Ontario’s total net interprovincial migration loss was 36,911, compared to a net loss of 6,046 in the previous year.
Year-over-year growth
In the 12 months to March 31, Ontario’s population grew by 211,933 or 1.4%, much faster than in the previous year (66,559 or 0.5%). Among the provinces, Ontario had the fifth fastest population growth rate after Prince Edward Island (3.1%), Nova Scotia (2.2%), British Columbia (1.9%) and New Brunswick (1.8%). Canada’s population grew by 501,527 (1.3%) over the period.
For more information contact Alex Munger
Ontario Demographic Factsheet
| Region | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 32,571 | 34,339 | 36,109 | 37,065 | 37,601 | 38,037 | 38,246 |
| Ontario | 12,662 | 13,261 | 13,875 | 14,309 | 14,545 | 14,746 | 14,826 |
| Ontario as % of Canada | 38.9 | 38.6 | 38.4 | 38.6 | 38.7 | 38.8 | 38.7 |
| Ontario average annual growth rate (Over previous year shown) | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| Region | 2026 | 2031 | 2036 | 2041 | 2046 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 40,315 | 42,271 | 44,115 | 45,844 | 47,479 |
| Ontario | 16,076 | 17,091 | 18,083 | 19,058 | 20,016 |
| Ontario as % of Canada | 39.9 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 41.6 | 42.2 |
| Ontario average annual growth rate (Over previous year shown) | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| Age group | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| 5–14 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 11.0 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 10.5 |
| 15–24 | 13.8 | 13.7 | 12.9 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 12.8 | 12.5 |
| 25–44 | 29.4 | 27.1 | 26.5 | 26.7 | 27.0 | 27.4 | 27.6 |
| 45–64 | 26.0 | 28.3 | 28.1 | 27.5 | 27.1 | 26.7 | 26.5 |
| 65–74 | 6.9 | 7.6 | 9.2 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 10.3 |
| 75+ | 6.2 | 6.6 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.8 |
| Age group | 2026 | 2031 | 2036 | 2041 | 2046 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| 5–14 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 9.9 |
| 15–24 | 12.9 | 12.7 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.5 |
| 25–44 | 28.4 | 28.3 | 27.8 | 26.9 | 26.3 |
| 45–64 | 24.1 | 22.7 | 22.8 | 23.6 | 24.2 |
| 65–74 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 10.5 | 9.4 | 9.0 |
| 75+ | 8.9 | 10.2 | 11.7 | 13.0 | 13.3 |
| Age group | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–14 | 17.8 | 16.6 | 16.1 | 15.8 | 15.6 | 15.5 | 15.3 |
| 15–64 | 69.2 | 69.1 | 67.6 | 67.3 | 67.1 | 66.9 | 66.6 |
| 65+ | 13.0 | 14.2 | 16.3 | 16.9 | 17.3 | 17.6 | 18.1 |
| Age group | 2026 | 2031 | 2036 | 2041 | 2046 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–14 | 14.9 | 14.8 | 14.8 | 14.8 | 14.8 |
| 15–64 | 65.4 | 63.7 | 62.9 | 62.8 | 62.9 |
| 65+ | 19.8 | 21.6 | 22.3 | 22.4 | 22.2 |
| Other characteristic | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dependency ratio (%) | 60.6 | 60.4 | 62.6 | 63.2 | 63.4 | 63.6 | 63.9 |
| Median age (years) | 38.4 | 39.8 | 40.7 | 40.6 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 40.7 |
| Age span of baby boom (years) | 41-60 | 46-65 | 51-70 | 53-72 | 54-73 | 55-74 | 56-75 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.55 | 1.56 | 1.51 | 1.45 | 1.42 | n.a. | n.a. |
| Female life expectancy at birth (years) | 83.2 | 84.1 | 84.4 | 84.4 | 84.7 | 84.4 | n.a. |
| Male life expectancy at birth (years) | 78.7 | 79.9 | 80.4 | 80.2 | 80.4 | 79.9 | n.a. |
| Families (000s) | 3,539 | 3,722 | 3,832 | 3,953 | 4,010 | 4,055 | 4,111 |
| Households (000s) | 4,555 | 4,888 | 5,169 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 5,491 |
| Other characteristic | 2026 | 2031 | 2036 | 2041 | 2046 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dependency ratio (%) | 67.9 | 72.3 | 74.0 | 74.5 | 74.3 |
| Median age (years) | 40.4 | 40.9 | 41.5 | 42.0 | 42.3 |
| Age span of baby boom (years) | 61-80 | 66-85 | 71-90 | 76-95 | 81-100 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.39 | 1.39 | 1.42 | 1.46 | 1.50 |
| Female life expectancy at birth (years) | 85.2 | 85.9 | 86.6 | 87.3 | 87.9 |
| Male life expectancy at birth (years) | 81.2 | 82.2 | 83.1 | 84.0 | 84.8 |
| Families (000s) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Households (000s) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Region | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Toronto Area | 45.8 | 47.2 | 47.8 | 47.8 | 48.0 | 48.0 | 47.9 |
| Central | 22.0 | 21.6 | 21.6 | 21.7 | 21.7 | 21.7 | 21.8 |
| Eastern | 13.2 | 13.2 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 |
| Southwestern | 12.6 | 12.0 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 11.7 |
| Northeastern | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Northwestern | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| Region | 2026 | 2031 | 2036 | 2041 | 2046 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Toronto Area | 48.5 | 48.9 | 49.3 | 49.6 | 49.8 |
| Central | 21.8 | 21.9 | 22.0 | 22.0 | 22.1 |
| Eastern | 13.0 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 12.8 | 12.8 |
| Southwestern | 11.6 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 11.2 | 11.1 |
| Northeastern | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| Northwestern | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| Period | Population, beginning of period | Total change | Births | Deaths | Natural increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five-Year: 2001–06 | 11,898 | 764 | 658 | 418 | 240 |
| Five-Year: 2006–11 | 12,662 | 600 | 697 | 441 | 256 |
| Five-Year: 2011–16 | 13,261 | 614 | 702 | 471 | 231 |
| Annual: 2016–17 | 13,875 | 195 | 141 | 102 | 39 |
| Annual: 2017–18 | 14,070 | 239 | 141 | 107 | 34 |
| Annual: 2018–19 | 14,309 | 236 | 140 | 106 | 34 |
| Annual: 2019–20 | 14,545 | 201 | 140 | 112 | 28 |
| Annual: 2020–21 | 14,746 | 81 | 137 | 117 | 20 |
| Period | Immigrants | Net emigrants | Net NPRs | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five-Year: 2001–06 | 653 | 125 | 44 | 573 |
| Five-Year: 2006–11 | 558 | 104 | 57 | 511 |
| Five-Year: 2011–16 | 519 | 123 | 85 | 481 |
| Annual: 2016–17 | 98 | 19 | 63 | 142 |
| Annual: 2017–18 | 132 | 16 | 78 | 194 |
| Annual: 2018–19 | 139 | 16 | 72 | 195 |
| Annual: 2019–20 | 127 | −3 | 40 | 170 |
| Annual: 2020–21 | 108 | 12 | −18 | 78 |
| Period | In | Out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five-Year: 2001–06 | 307 | 336 | −30 |
| Five-Year: 2006–11 | 296 | 355 | −59 |
| Five-Year: 2011–16 | 307 | 346 | −39 |
| Annual: 2016–17 | 72 | 58 | 13 |
| Annual: 2017–18 | 70 | 60 | 10 |
| Annual: 2018–19 | 67 | 60 | 7 |
| Annual: 2019–20 | 75 | 72 | 3 |
| Annual: 2020–21 | 65 | 83 | −17 |
Note: All population figures are for July 1st.
Sources: Ontario Ministry of Finance and Statistics Canada.
June 22, 2022
Office of Economic Policy
Accessible image description
This bar chart compares the components of population growth in the first quarter of 2022 with the average of the same quarter of the previous five years (2017-2021). In the first quarter of 2022, births, deaths, immigration, emigration and the net change in non-permanent residents were higher than the average of first quarters of the previous five years, while net interprovincial migration was lower.
Footnotes
- footnote[1] Back to paragraph Statistics Canada's population estimates based on the 2016 Census.
- footnote[2] Back to paragraph All projections are produced by the Ontario Ministry of Finance (Spring 2021), except those for Canada (and Ontario as % of Canada), which are from Statistics Canada.
- footnote[3] Back to paragraph Total dependency ratio is the ratio of the population aged 0–19 and 65+ to the population aged 20-64.
- footnote[4] Back to paragraph Total fertility rate and life expectancy estimates are for calendar years, and projections are for census years.
- footnote[5] Back to paragraph Households are Census data.
- footnote[6] Back to paragraph In the "Components of Change" table, flows are for the 12-month period July 1 to June 30. Net international migration is calculated as the net balance of immigrants, net emigrants and net non-permanent residents (NPRs). Components may not add up due to existence of residuals.