Population growth

Ontario’s population reached 16,171,802 on October 1, 2024, with an increase of 47,686 residents during the third quarter of 2024. This compares to an increase of 195,258 people recorded in the same quarter of 2023.

Over the 12 months to October 1, 2024, the provincial population grew by 353,337 residents, an annual increase of 2.2 per cent. Over the previous 12-month period to October 1, 2023, Ontario’s population had grown by 528,915 people or 3.5 per cent.

Among the provinces, Ontario had the fourth highest population growth rate during the 12 months to October 1, 2024, after Alberta (3.9%), Manitoba (2.4%) and B.C. (2.2%). Canada’s population grew by 951,517 (2.3%) over the period.

Components of Demographic Change for Ontario
ComponentQ3 2023Q3 202412 Months to 
October 1, 2023		12 Months to 
October 1, 2024
Natural increase5,5446,6887,29211,306
Natural increase – Births36,12538,123134,800142,716
Natural increase – Deaths30,58131,435127,508131,410
Net migration189,71440,998521,623342,031
Migration – Net international migration194,80645,249550,554366,463
Migration – International migration – Immigration47,16151,292196,361201,788
Migration – International migration – Emigration*4,2114,33623,79424,498
Migration – International migration – Net change in non-permanent residents151,856-1,707377,987189,173
Migration – International migration – Non-permanent resident Inflow207,606114,777551,968476,973
Migration – International migration – Non-permanent resident Outflow55,750116,484173,981287,800
Migration – Net interprovincial migration-5,092-4,251-28,931-24,432
Migration – Interprovincial migration – Inflow20,80818,66483,13974,872
Migration – Interprovincial migration – Outflow25,90022,915112,07099,304
Population Growth195,25847,686528,915353,337
Population Growth Rate  3.5%2.2%

Source: Statistics Canada.  *Emigration refers to the net of emigration minus returning emigration.

Natural increase

There were 38,123 births during the third quarter of 2024, up from 36,125 in same quarter of 2023. The number of deaths also increased, reaching 31,435 in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 30,581 over the same period of the previous year.

Natural increase (births minus deaths) was 6,688 in the quarter, up from 5,544 in the same quarter of 2023.

International migration

There were 51,292 new immigrants to Ontario in the third quarter, up from 47,161 in the same quarter of 2023. Over the 12 months to October 1, 2024, 201,788 immigrants settled in the province, up from 196,361 in the previous year. Ontario received 42.0 per cent of all immigrants to Canada over this period, down from 43.2 per cent in the previous year.  

There were 4,336 emigrants in the third quarter, compared to 4,211 in the same quarter of 2023.

The number of non-permanent residents in Ontario decreased by 1,707 in the third quarter of 2024. The number of asylum claimants living in the province increased by 16,221 in that quarter. Holders of a work permit rose by 28,138, holders of a study permit declined by 20,688, and the number of those holding both a study and a work permit decreased by 24,633.

There were 1,375,824 non-permanent residents living in Ontario on October 1, 2024, an increase of 189,173, or 15.9 per cent, over the previous 12 months.

Net Change in the Number of Non-Permanent Residents in Ontario
Net Change by CategoryQ3 2023Q3 202412 Months to 
October 1, 2023		12 Months to 
October 1, 2024
Asylum Claimants13,99516,22142,24972,688
Holders of Work Permit Only73,80828,138199,442114,141
Holders of Study Permit Only43,608-20,68870,140-25,794
Holders of Both Work & Study Permit14,469-24,63349,28410,894
Other5,976-74516,87217,244
Total Net Change151,856-1,707377,987189,173
Non-Permanent Residents Living in Ontario
Number of People as of:October 1, 2022October 1, 2023October 1, 2024
Asylum Claimants91,855134,104206,792
Holders of Work Permit Only302,095501,537615,678
Holders of Study Permit Only259,915330,055304,261
Holders of Both Work & Study Permit125,500174,784185,678
Other29,29946,17163,415
Total808,6641,186,6511,375,824
Change from Previous Year+27.6%+46.7%+15.9%

Source: Statistics Canada.

Overall, there was a net international migration gain of 45,249 in the third quarter, down from a net gain of 194,806 in the same quarter of 2023. 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 third quarter of 2024, Ontario saw a net interprovincial migration loss of 4,251 people to the rest of Canada, compared to a net loss of 5,092 people in the same quarter of 2023. In the past year, net outflows from Ontario to other provinces and territories were about 30 per cent smaller than during the peak loss coming out of the pandemic and the improvement continued in the third quarter. Notable improvements have been recorded in migration to Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, and Atlantic Canada. The largest net gains were from Quebec (+902) and Saskatchewan (+144). The largest net losses were to Alberta (-4,369) and Nova Scotia (-341). Over the 12 months to October 1, 2024, Ontario’s total net interprovincial migration loss was 24,432, compared to a net loss of 28,931 during the previous year.

Ontario Demographic Factsheet

Population (000s) - Estimatesfootnote 1
Region201120162021202220232024
Canada34,33936,11138,24038,93640,08341,289
Ontario13,26213,87714,84215,14115,62316,124
Ontario as % of Canada38.638.438.838.939.039.1
Ontario average annual growth rate (Over previous year shown)0.90.91.42.03.23.2
Population (000s) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Region202620312036204120462051
Canada41,66543,93346,35248,65150,83752,905
Ontario16,44516,90017,73718,67319,70620,805
Ontario as % of Canada39.538.538.338.438.839.3
Ontario average annual growth rate (Over previous year shown)1.00.51.01.01.11.1
Age distribution (%) - Estimatesfootnote 1
Age group201120162021202220232024
0–45.45.24.94.74.64.4
5–1411.211.010.710.610.410.2
15–2413.713.012.212.412.713.0
25–4427.126.527.628.028.829.5
45–6428.428.126.626.025.224.6
65–747.69.210.310.310.210.2
75+6.67.17.78.08.18.1
Age distribution (%) - MOF Projectionsfootnote 2
Age group202620312036204120462051
0–44.44.34.34.34.44.5
5–1410.09.69.29.09.09.2
15–2413.012.512.111.611.311.2
25–4429.629.229.128.628.428.3
45–6423.923.023.224.124.724.9
65–7410.611.310.69.59.19.2
75+8.610.111.612.813.012.8
Selected age groups (%) - Estimatesfootnote 1
Age group201120162021202220232024
0–1416.616.115.515.314.914.5
15–6469.167.666.566.566.767.1
65+14.216.318.018.318.318.3
Selected age groups (%) - MOF Projectionsfootnote 2
Age group202620312036204120462051
0–1414.413.913.513.313.413.6
15–6466.464.764.364.364.564.3
65+19.221.522.322.322.122.0
Other characteristics - Estimatesfootnote 1
Other characteristic201120162021202220232024
Total dependency ratio (%)footnote 360.362.664.264.563.763.0
Median age (years)39.840.740.740.439.939.6
Age span of baby boom (years)46-6551-7056-7557-7658-7759-78
Total fertility ratefootnote 41.571.521.371.271.22n.a.
Female life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 484.184.484.384.184.5n.a.
Male life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 479.980.479.679.680.1n.a.
Families (000s)3,7223,8184,0174,0704,1694,260
Households (000s)footnote 55,0625,3185,7415,8406,0146,175
Other characteristics - MOF Projectionsfootnote 2
Other characteristic202620312036204120462051
Total dependency ratio (%)footnote 364.668.969.368.667.968.1
Median age (years)39.841.041.942.542.642.8
Age span of baby boom (years)61-8066-8571-9076-9581-10086-105
Total fertility ratefootnote 41.181.181.211.231.261.28
Female life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 484.685.486.186.787.488.0
Male life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 480.481.382.283.083.984.6
Families (000s)n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.
Households (000s)footnote 5n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.
Regional distribution (%) - Estimatesfootnote 1
Region201120162021202220232024
Greater Toronto Area47.247.847.247.047.347.6
Central21.621.622.122.222.222.1
Eastern13.213.113.313.313.213.1
Southwestern12.011.711.912.011.911.8
Northeastern4.34.13.93.93.93.8
Northwestern1.81.71.71.61.61.6
Regional distribution (%) - MOF Projectionsfootnote 2
Region202620312036204120462051
Greater Toronto Area46.846.646.646.746.947.0
Central22.622.822.923.023.023.1
Eastern13.213.513.513.613.613.6
Southwestern12.112.012.012.011.911.9
Northeastern3.83.73.53.43.33.2
Northwestern1.51.51.41.41.31.3
Components of change (000s) — 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: 2021–2214,84229913812018
Annual: 2022–2315,1414821351278
Annual: 2023–2415,62350114113110
Components of change (000s)  — 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: 2021–2222722107312
Annual: 2022–2319924328503
Annual: 2023–2419824343516
Components of change (000s) — year beginning July 1      
Interprovincial migration
PeriodInOutNet
Five-Year: 2001–06307336-30
Five-Year: 2006–11296355-59
Five-Year: 2011–16307346-39
Five-Year: 2016–2134032614
Annual: 2021–2277108-31
Annual: 2022–2377106-30
Annual: 2023–248792-25

Note: All population figures are for July 1st.

Sources: Ontario Ministry of Finance and Statistics Canada.

Other Demographics Reports