Population growth

Ontario’s population reached 15,801,768 on October 1, 2023, with an increase of 193,399 residents during the third quarter of 2023. This compares to an increase of 138,955 people recorded in the same quarter of 2022.

Over the 12 months to October 1, 2023, the provincial population grew by 517,807 residents, an annual increase of 3.4 per cent. Over the previous 12-month period to October 1, 2022, Ontario’s population had grown by 341,689 people or 2.3 per cent.

Among the provinces, Ontario had the third highest population growth rate during the 12 months to October 1, 2023, after Alberta (4.3%) and Prince Edward Island (4.0%). Canada’s population grew by 1,252,256 (3.2%) over the 12-month period.

Components of Demographic Change for Ontario
ComponentQ3 2022Q3 202312 Months to
Oct. 1, 2022
12 Months to
Oct. 1, 2023
Natural increase Total7,4897,93316,53115,318
Natural increase – Births36,01537,813136,584139,546
Natural increase – Deaths28,52629,880120,053124,228
Net migration131,466185,466325,158502,489
Migration – Net international migration140,866191,418362,367540,970
Migration – International migration – Immigration50,13247,140218,568196,305
Migration – International migration – Emigration*2,3902,46614,02014,317
Migration – International migration – Net change in non-permanent residents93,124146,744157,819358,982
Migration – International migration – Non-permanent resident Inflow148,263210,301365,046565,961
Migration – International migration – Non-permanent resident Outflow55,13963,557207,227206,979
Migration – Net interprovincial migration-9,400-5,952-37,209-38,481
Migration – Interprovincial migration – Inflow22,74420,34584,40178,285
Migration – Interprovincial migration – Outflow32,14426,297121,610116,766
Population Growth138,955193,399341,689517,807
Population Growth Rate  2.3%3.4%

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

Natural increase

There were 37,813 births during the third quarter of 2023, up from 36,015 in same quarter of 2022. The number of deaths also increased, reaching 29,880 in the third quarter of 2023, compared to 28,526 over the same period of the previous year.

Natural increase (births minus deaths) was 7,933 in the quarter, up from 7,489 in the same quarter of 2022.

International migration

There were 47,140 new immigrants to Ontario in the third quarter, down from 50,132 in the same quarter of 2022. In the 12 months to October 1, 2023, 196,305 immigrants settled in the province, down from 218,568 in the previous year. Ontario received 43.2 per cent of all immigrants to Canada over this period, down from 44.4 per cent in the previous year.

There were 2,466 emigrants in the third quarter, compared to 2,390 in the same quarter of 2022.

The number of non permanent residents in Ontario increased by 146,744 in the third quarter of 2023. The number of asylum claimants living in the province increased by 14,646 in that quarter. Holders of a work permit rose by 72,995, holders of a study permit grew by 40,952, and the number of those holding both a study and a work permit increased by 13,225.

There were 1,133,607 non-permanent residents living in Ontario on October 1, 2023, an increase of 358,982, or 46.3 per cent, over the previous 12 months.

Net Change in the Number of Non-Permanent Residents in Ontario
Net Change by CategoryQ3 2022Q3 202312 Months to
Oct. 1, 2022
12 Months to
Oct. 1, 2023
Asylum Claimants2,30414,6464,60833,682
Holders of Work Permit Only39,34372,99544,466195,722
Holders of Study Permit Only32,91940,95269,34868,226
Holder of Both Work & Study Permit15,73113,22535,15949,158
Other2,8274,9264,23812,194
Total Net Change93,124146,744157,819358,982
Non-Permanent Residents Living in Ontario

Number of People as of:

Oct. 1, 2021Oct. 1, 2022Oct. 1, 2023
Asylum Claimants67,14971,757105,439
Holders of Work Permit Only252,282296,748492,470
Holders of Study Permit Only188,117257,465325,691
Holder of Both Work & Study Permit88,714123,873173,031
Other20,54424,78236,976
Total616,806774,6251,133,607
Change from Previous Year+7.6%+25.6%+46.3%

Source: Statistics Canada.

Overall, there was a net international migration gain of 191,418 in the third quarter, up from a net gain of 140,866 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 third quarter of 2023, Ontario saw a net interprovincial migration loss of 5,952 people to the rest of Canada, compared to a net loss of 9,400 people in the same quarter of 2022. Ontario experienced net losses in its exchanges with 7 of the other 12 provinces and territories. The largest net gains were from Quebec (+1,069) and Manitoba (+513). The largest net losses were to Alberta (-6,262) and New Brunswick (-669). In the 12 months to October 1, 2023, Ontario’s total net interprovincial migration loss was 38,481, compared to a net loss of 37,209 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 51.591.571.521.341.371.27n.a.
Female life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 583.284.184.484.484.484.1n.a.
Male life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 578.779.980.479.979.679.6n.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