On September 27, Statistics Canada released the first set of population estimates based on the 2021 Census for Canada, the provinces, and territories, including historical revisions to back to 2001. For the first time, information on the types of non-permanent residents was provided, including data on inflows and outflows.

Population growth

Ontario’s population reached 15,608,369 on July 1, 2023, with an increase of 151,294 residents during the second quarter of 2023. This compares to an increase of 98,795 people recorded in the same quarter of 2022.

Over the 12 months to July 1, 2023, the provincial population grew by 463,363 residents, an annual increase of 3.1 per cent. Over the previous 12-month period to July 1, 2022, Ontario’s population had grown by 302,518 people or 2.0 per cent.

Among the provinces, Ontario had the fifth highest population growth rate during the 12 months to July 1, 2023, after Alberta (4.1%), Prince Edward Island (3.9%), Nova Scotia (3.2%), and New Brunswick (3.1%). Canada’s population grew by 1,158,705 (3.0%) over the 12-month period.

Components of Demographic Change for Ontario
ComponentQ2 2022Q2 202312 Months to
July 1, 2022		12 Months to
July 1, 2023
Natural increase Total4,9145,67019,27014,874
Natural increase – Births34,23235,896138,492137,748
Natural increase – Deaths29,31830,226119,222122,874
Net migration93,881145,624283,248448,489
Migration – Net international migration108,773159,477314,266490,418
Migration – International migration – Immigration50,80454,933227,424199,297
Migration – International migration – Emigration1,8241,80813,98214,241
Migration – International migration – Net change in non-permanent residents59,793106,352100,824305,362
Migration – International migration – Non-permanent resident Inflow93,575147,253326,393503,923
Migration – International migration – Non-permanent resident Outflow33,78240,901225,569198,561
Migration – Net interprovincial migration−14,892−13,853−31,018−41,929
Migration – Interprovincial migration – Inflow30,83825,07785,87980,684
Migration – Interprovincial migration – Outflow45,73038,930116,897122,613
Population Growth98,795151,294302,518463,363
Population Growth Rate  2.0%3.1%

Source: Statistics Canada.

Natural increase

There were 35,896 births during the second quarter of 2023, up from 34,232 in same quarter of 2022. The number of deaths also increased, reaching 30,226 in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 29,318 over the same period of the previous year.

Natural increase (births minus deaths) was 5,670 in the quarter, up from 4,914 in the same quarter of 2022.

International migration

There were 54,933 new immigrants to Ontario in the second quarter, up from 50,804 in the same quarter of 2022. In the 12 months to July 1, 2023, 199,297 immigrants settled in the province, down from 227,424 in the previous year. Ontario received 42.5 per cent of all immigrants to Canada over this period, down from 46.1 per cent in the previous year.  

There were 1,808 emigrants in the second quarter, compared to 1,824 in the same quarter of 2022.

The number of non permanent residents in Ontario increased by 106,352 in the second quarter of 2023. The number of asylum claimants living in the province increased by 9,040 in that quarter. Holders of a work permit rose by 57,411, holders of a study permit grew by 14,569, and the number of those holding both a study and a work permit increased by 3,582.

There were 986,863 non-permanent residents living in Ontario on July 1, 2023, an increase of 305,362, or 44.8 per cent, over the previous 12 months.

Net Change in the Number of Non-Permanent Residents in Ontario
Net Change by CategoryQ2 2022Q2 202312 Months to
July 1, 2022		12 Months to
July 1, 2023
Asylum Claimants2,0189,04062321,340
Holders of Work Permit Only27,82357,44114,365162,070
Holders of Study Permit Only16,82414,56962,20360,193
Holder of Both Work & Study Permit11,09621,72020,27751,664
Other2,0323,5823,35610,095
Total Net Change59,793106,352100,824305,362
Non-Permanent Residents Living in Ontario
Number of People by CategoryJuly 1, 2021July 1, 2022July 1, 2023
Asylum Claimants68,83069,45390,793
Holders of Work Permit Only243,040257,405419,475
Holders of Study Permit Only162,343224,546284,739
Holder of Both Work & Study Permit87,865108,142159,806
Other18,59921,95532,050
Total580,677681,501986,863
Change from Previous Year−4.3%+17.4%+44.8%

Source: Statistics Canada.

Overall, there was a net international migration gain of 159,477 in the second quarter, up from a net gain of 108,773 in the same quarter of 2022. Net international migration is the sum of all new immigrants during the quarter, minus the number of emigrants, plus the net change in non-permanent residents.

Interprovincial migration

In the second quarter of 2023, Ontario saw a net interprovincial migration loss of 13,853 people to the rest of Canada, compared to a net loss of 14,892 people in the same quarter of 2022. Ontario experienced net losses in its exchanges with 8 of the other 12 provinces and territories. The largest net gains were from Quebec (+353) and Manitoba (+248). The largest net losses were to Alberta (−6,765), British Columbia (−2,573). In the 12 months to July 1, 2023, Ontario’s total net interprovincial migration loss was 41,929, compared to a net loss of 31,018 during the previous year.

Ontario Demographic Factsheet

Population (000s) - Estimatesfootnote 1
Region2006201120162020202120222023
Canada32,57134,33936,11138,02938,24038,93940,098
Ontario12,66213,26213,87714,76214,84215,14515,608
Ontario as % of Canada38.938.638.438.838.838.938.9
Ontario average annual growth rate (Over previous year shown)1.30.90.91.60.52.03.1
Population (000s) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Region20262031203620412046
Canada40,96543,27645,28247,07048,770
Ontario16,62717,81919,06520,35521,692
Ontario as % of Canada40.641.242.143.244.5
Ontario average annual growth rate (Over previous year shown)2.11.41.41.31.3
Age distribution (%) - Estimates footnote 3
Age group2006201120162020202120222023
0–45.45.45.24.94.84.7n.a.
5–1412.311.211.010.610.510.4n.a.
15–2413.813.712.912.812.412.6n.a.
25–4429.427.126.527.327.628.0n.a.
45–6426.028.328.126.726.525.9n.a.
65–746.97.69.210.010.310.3n.a.
75+6.26.67.17.67.88.0n.a.
Age distribution (%) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Age group20262031203620412046
0–44.85.05.05.15.1
5–149.79.69.910.210.2
15–2413.813.512.912.813.1
25–4429.329.629.428.727.9
45–6423.421.921.822.623.4
65–7410.410.89.98.78.2
75+8.69.711.011.912.0
Selected age groups (%) - Estimates footnote 3
Age group2006201120162020202120222023
0–1417.816.616.115.515.315.1n.a.
15–6469.269.167.666.966.566.5n.a.
65+13.014.216.317.718.118.4n.a.
Selected age groups (%) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Age group20262031203620412046
0–1414.414.615.015.315.4
15–6466.564.964.264.164.4
65+19.020.520.920.720.3
Other characteristics - Estimates footnote 3
Other characteristic2006201120162020202120222023
Total dependency ratio (%)footnote 460.660.462.663.764.064.3n.a.
Median age (years)38.439.840.740.540.740.4n.a.
Age span of baby boom (years)41-6046-6551-7055-7456-7557-7658-77
Total fertility ratefootnote 51.591.571.521.341.37n.a.n.a.
Female life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 583.284.184.484.484.4n.a.n.a.
Male life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 578.779.980.479.979.6n.a.n.a.
Families (000s)3,5393,7223,8324,0394,1054,170n.a.
Households (000s)footnote 64,5554,8885,169n.a.5,491n.a.n.a.
Other characteristics - MOF Projections footnote 2
Other characteristic20262031203620412046
Total dependency ratio (%)footnote 464.568.369.770.370.0
Median age (years)39.239.539.940.240.3
Age span of baby boom (years)61-8066-8571-9076-9581-100
Total fertility ratefootnote 51.371.381.411.461.50
Female life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 585.185.786.487.087.6
Male life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 580.881.782.683.584.3
Families (000s)n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.
Households (000s)footnote 6n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.
Regional distribution (%) - Estimates footnote 3
Region2006201120162020202120222023
Greater Toronto Area45.847.247.848.047.847.8n.a.
Central22.021.621.621.721.921.9n.a.
Eastern13.213.213.113.113.113.1n.a.
Southwestern12.612.011.711.711.711.7n.a.
Northeastern4.54.34.13.93.93.8n.a.
Northwestern1.91.81.71.61.61.6n.a.
Regional distribution (%) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Region20262031203620412046
Greater Toronto Area48.248.448.548.648.6
Central22.022.222.322.522.6
Eastern12.812.812.812.912.9
Southwestern11.811.711.611.511.5
Northeastern3.73.53.43.23.1
Northwestern1.51.41.31.31.2
Components of change (000s)footnote 1,footnote 7 — year beginning July 1
PeriodPopulation,
beginning of period		Total changeBirthsDeathsNatural increase
Five-Year: 2001–0611,897764666418249
Five-Year: 2006–1112,662600709442268
Five-Year: 2011–1613,262614706471234
Five-Year: 2016–2113,877966701543157
Annual: 2021–2214,84230313811919
Annual: 2022–2315,14546313812315
Components of change (000s)footnote 1,footnote 7 — year beginning July 1
International migration
PeriodImmigrantsNet emigrantsNet NPRsNet
Five-Year: 2001–0665312544573
Five-Year: 2006–1155810458512
Five-Year: 2011–1651912387484
Five-Year: 2016–2160575221751
Annual: 2021–2222714101314
Annual: 2022–2319914305490
Components of change (000s)footnote 1,footnote 7 — year beginning July 1
Interprovincial migration
PeriodInOutNet
Five-Year: 2001–06307336−30
Five-Year: 2006–11296355−59
Five-Year: 2011–16339378−39
Five-Year: 2016–2137235814
Annual: 2021–2286117−31
Annual: 2022–2381123−42

Note: All population figures are for July 1st.

Sources: Ontario Ministry of Finance and Statistics Canada.

Other Demographics Reports