Immigrants come to Canada each year

Canada is implementing a controlled, gradual increase in immigrant numbers, with more than one million new immigrants in 2019, 2020, and 2021. 

The Liberal Party government has defined 300,000 immigrants annually as the “new normal” since it came to power in 2015.

Previously, the area’s annual number of immigrants ranged from 250,000 to 270,000. 

Why does Canada need immigrants?

Canada is currently experiencing a historically low unemployment rate. According to the latest data from Statistics Canada. The current unemployment rate is 5.2%, the lowest since the record began in the 1970s. This is because Canada’s population is aging, and the birth rate is too low to replace the 9 million workers who reach retirement age by 2030. Canada has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world. With an average of about 1.5 children per woman.
Due to the small number of Canadian-born citizens. Canada relies on immigrants to work and pay taxes to support an aging population. For example, according to the 2022 federal budget. Health care costs are projected to increase significantly over the next few years to an estimated $ 56 billion by 2027. Immigration is essential to Canada’s strong economy and to ensure strong social welfare and health care for all benefits, including permanent residents.

How many economic migrants come to Canada each year? 

Economic migrants are central to Canada’s immigration program. 

This category includes federal immigrants, business immigrants, PNP immigrants, and Quebec immigrants eligible to be welcomed through Express Entry. 

Canada expects 191,600 economic migrants in 2019, 195,800 in 2020, and 202,300 in 2021. 

Family immigrants are the second largest group after economic migrants. 

 

Immigration category	Category	2019 – Target	2020 – Target	2021 – Target
Economic	Federal High Skilled	81,400	85,800	88,800
	Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program	2,000	4,000	TBDs
	Caregivers	14,000	5,000	TBD
	Federal Business	750	700	800
	Provincial Nominee Program	61,000	67,800	71,300
	Quebec Skilled Workers and Business	TBDs	TBD	TBD
	Total Economic	191,650	195,800	202,400

 

Canada’s Family Reunification Sponsorship Immigration Program is aimed at spouses, partners, children, parents, and grandparents. 

This category will grow over the next three years, but not as big as economic migrants. 

Canada will accept 88,500 family-class migrants in 2019, 91,000 in 2019 and 91,000 again in 2020. 

 

Canada’s Family Class Immigration Levels: Breakdown

Immigration category	Category	2019 Target	2020 Target	2021 Target
Family	Spouses, Partners, and Children	68,000	70,000	70,000
	Parents and Grandparents	20,500	21,000	21,000
	Total Family	88,500	91,000	91,000

 

How many refugees and parents come to Canada each year?

Canada has different categories of refugees and parents who welcome them each year. It is also known for responding to international crises, as evidenced by the recent acceptance of Syrians and Yazidis from Iraq. 

Canada’s Private Refugee Assistance Program is praised worldwide for welcoming and supporting vulnerable people. 

As with other categories, the number of refugees and protected persons is expected to increase over the next three years. 

This category is expected to reach 46,450  in 2019, 49,750 in 2020 and 51,720 in 2021.

Canada’s Refugee and Protected Person Levels Plan: Breakdown

Immigration category	Category	2019 Target	2020 Target	2021 Target
Refugees and Protected Persons	Protected Persons in Canada & Dependents Abroad	16,500	18,000	20,000
	Resettled Refugees – Government Assisted	9,300	10,750	10,720
	Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office Referred	1,650	1,000	1,000
	Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored	19,000	20,000	20,000
	Total Refugees and Protected Persons	46,450	49,750	51,720

 

How many humanitarian immigrants come to Canada each year? 

Canada’s immigration plans include an additional category, “Humanitarianism and Others.” 

This category is intended for people who do not fall into the above categories. 

Candidates in this category are welcomed at the discretion of the Federal Government.

 

Canada’s Humanitarian & Other Levels Plan

Category	2018 Target	2019 Target	2020 Target
Humanitarian & Other	3,500	4,250	4,500