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
Component Q3 2022 Q3 2023 12 Months to
Oct. 1, 2022		 12 Months to
Oct. 1, 2023
Natural increase Total 7,489 7,933 16,531 15,318
Natural increase – Births 36,015 37,813 136,584 139,546
Natural increase – Deaths 28,526 29,880 120,053 124,228
Net migration 131,466 185,466 325,158 502,489
Migration – Net international migration 140,866 191,418 362,367 540,970
Migration – International migration – Immigration 50,132 47,140 218,568 196,305
Migration – International migration – Emigration* 2,390 2,466 14,020 14,317
Migration – International migration – Net change in non-permanent residents 93,124 146,744 157,819 358,982
Migration – International migration – Non-permanent resident Inflow 148,263 210,301 365,046 565,961
Migration – International migration – Non-permanent resident Outflow 55,139 63,557 207,227 206,979
Migration – Net interprovincial migration -9,400 -5,952 -37,209 -38,481
Migration – Interprovincial migration – Inflow 22,744 20,345 84,401 78,285
Migration – Interprovincial migration – Outflow 32,144 26,297 121,610 116,766
Population Growth 138,955 193,399 341,689 517,807
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 Category Q3 2022 Q3 2023 12 Months to
Oct. 1, 2022		 12 Months to
Oct. 1, 2023
Asylum Claimants 2,304 14,646 4,608 33,682
Holders of Work Permit Only 39,343 72,995 44,466 195,722
Holders of Study Permit Only 32,919 40,952 69,348 68,226
Holder of Both Work & Study Permit 15,731 13,225 35,159 49,158
Other 2,827 4,926 4,238 12,194
Total Net Change 93,124 146,744 157,819 358,982
Non-Permanent Residents Living in Ontario

Number of People as of:

 Oct. 1, 2021 Oct. 1, 2022 Oct. 1, 2023
Asylum Claimants 67,149 71,757 105,439
Holders of Work Permit Only 252,282 296,748 492,470
Holders of Study Permit Only 188,117 257,465 325,691
Holder of Both Work & Study Permit 88,714 123,873 173,031
Other 20,544 24,782 36,976
Total 616,806 774,625 1,133,607
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
Region 2006 2011 2016 2020 2021 2022 2023
Canada 32,571 34,339 36,111 38,029 38,240 38,939 40,098
Ontario 12,662 13,262 13,877 14,762 14,842 15,145 15,608
Ontario as % of Canada 38.9 38.6 38.4 38.8 38.8 38.9 38.9
Ontario average annual growth rate (Over previous year shown) 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.6 0.5 2.0 3.1
Population (000s) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Region 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046
Canada 40,965 43,276 45,282 47,070 48,770
Ontario 16,627 17,819 19,065 20,355 21,692
Ontario as % of Canada 40.6 41.2 42.1 43.2 44.5
Ontario average annual growth rate (Over previous year shown) 2.1 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3
Age distribution (%) - Estimates footnote 3
Age group 2006 2011 2016 2020 2021 2022 2023
0–4 5.4 5.4 5.2 4.9 4.8 4.7 n.a.
5–14 12.3 11.2 11.0 10.6 10.5 10.4 n.a.
15–24 13.8 13.7 12.9 12.8 12.4 12.6 n.a.
25–44 29.4 27.1 26.5 27.3 27.6 28.0 n.a.
45–64 26.0 28.3 28.1 26.7 26.5 25.9 n.a.
65–74 6.9 7.6 9.2 10.0 10.3 10.3 n.a.
75+ 6.2 6.6 7.1 7.6 7.8 8.0 n.a.
Age distribution (%) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Age group 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046
0–4 4.8 5.0 5.0 5.1 5.1
5–14 9.7 9.6 9.9 10.2 10.2
15–24 13.8 13.5 12.9 12.8 13.1
25–44 29.3 29.6 29.4 28.7 27.9
45–64 23.4 21.9 21.8 22.6 23.4
65–74 10.4 10.8 9.9 8.7 8.2
75+ 8.6 9.7 11.0 11.9 12.0
Selected age groups (%) - Estimates footnote 3
Age group 2006 2011 2016 2020 2021 2022 2023
0–14 17.8 16.6 16.1 15.5 15.3 15.1 n.a.
15–64 69.2 69.1 67.6 66.9 66.5 66.5 n.a.
65+ 13.0 14.2 16.3 17.7 18.1 18.4 n.a.
Selected age groups (%) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Age group 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046
0–14 14.4 14.6 15.0 15.3 15.4
15–64 66.5 64.9 64.2 64.1 64.4
65+ 19.0 20.5 20.9 20.7 20.3
Other characteristics - Estimates footnote 3
Other characteristic 2006 2011 2016 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total dependency ratio (%)footnote 4 60.6 60.4 62.6 63.7 64.0 64.3 n.a.
Median age (years) 38.4 39.8 40.7 40.5 40.7 40.4 n.a.
Age span of baby boom (years) 41-60 46-65 51-70 55-74 56-75 57-76 58-77
Total fertility ratefootnote 5 1.59 1.57 1.52 1.34 1.37 1.27 n.a.
Female life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 5 83.2 84.1 84.4 84.4 84.4 84.1 n.a.
Male life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 5 78.7 79.9 80.4 79.9 79.6 79.6 n.a.
Families (000s) 3,539 3,722 3,832 4,039 4,105 4,170 n.a.
Households (000s)footnote 6 4,555 4,888 5,169 n.a. 5,491 n.a. n.a.
Other characteristics - MOF Projections footnote 2
Other characteristic 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046
Total dependency ratio (%)footnote 4 64.5 68.3 69.7 70.3 70.0
Median age (years) 39.2 39.5 39.9 40.2 40.3
Age span of baby boom (years) 61-80 66-85 71-90 76-95 81-100
Total fertility ratefootnote 5 1.37 1.38 1.41 1.46 1.50
Female life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 5 85.1 85.7 86.4 87.0 87.6
Male life expectancy at birth (years)footnote 5 80.8 81.7 82.6 83.5 84.3
Families (000s) n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Households (000s)footnote 6 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Regional distribution (%) - Estimates footnote 3
Region 2006 2011 2016 2020 2021 2022 2023
Greater Toronto Area 45.8 47.2 47.8 48.0 47.8 47.8 n.a.
Central 22.0 21.6 21.6 21.7 21.9 21.9 n.a.
Eastern 13.2 13.2 13.1 13.1 13.1 13.1 n.a.
Southwestern 12.6 12.0 11.7 11.7 11.7 11.7 n.a.
Northeastern 4.5 4.3 4.1 3.9 3.9 3.8 n.a.
Northwestern 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 n.a.
Regional distribution (%) - MOF Projections footnote 2
Region 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046
Greater Toronto Area 48.2 48.4 48.5 48.6 48.6
Central 22.0 22.2 22.3 22.5 22.6
Eastern 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.9 12.9
Southwestern 11.8 11.7 11.6 11.5 11.5
Northeastern 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.1
Northwestern 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2
Components of change (000s)footnote 1,footnote 7 — year beginning July 1
Period Population,
beginning of period		 Total change Births Deaths Natural increase
Five-Year: 2001–06 11,897 764 666 418 249
Five-Year: 2006–11 12,662 600 709 442 268
Five-Year: 2011–16 13,262 614 706 471 234
Five-Year: 2016–21 13,877 966 701 543 157
Annual: 2021–22 14,842 303 138 119 19
Annual: 2022–23 15,145 463 138 123 15
Components of change (000s)footnote 1,footnote 7 — year beginning July 1
International migration
Period Immigrants Net emigrants Net NPRs Net
Five-Year: 2001–06 653 125 44 573
Five-Year: 2006–11 558 104 58 512
Five-Year: 2011–16 519 123 87 484
Five-Year: 2016–21 605 75 221 751
Annual: 2021–22 227 14 101 314
Annual: 2022–23 199 14 305 490
Components of change (000s)footnote 1,footnote 7 — year beginning July 1
Interprovincial migration
Period In Out Net
Five-Year: 2001–06 307 336 −30
Five-Year: 2006–11 296 355 −59
Five-Year: 2011–16 339 378 −39
Five-Year: 2016–21 372 358 14
Annual: 2021–22 86 117 −31
Annual: 2022–23 81 123 −42

Note: All population figures are for July 1st.

Sources: Ontario Ministry of Finance and Statistics Canada.

Other Demographics Reports