Canada recorded its lowest level of immigration since 2020, with a 20% drop in permanent immigrants in 2025. According to a report by the Montreal-based Association for Canadian Studies, the 2025 figure deviates from a decade-long pattern of accelerating increases.
The number of new permanent immigrants to Canada decreased from 483,655 in 2024 to 393,530 in 2025, with a significant decline in immigrants from India, who saw their numbers drop from 127,375 to 98,770.
Study permits issued also decreased by nearly 25%, with Indians accounting for 72% of that fall. Temporary foreign workers, refugees, economic immigrants, and family-sponsored immigrants also saw declines of 12%, 23%, 19%, and 10%, respectively.
Canada's population increase slowed from 3.3% in 2023 to 0.1% by the end of 2025, as government policies changed in response to growing anti-immigrant sentiment.
