Canada is witnessing a sharp uptick in emigration, with tens of thousands of citizens and residents choosing to leave. According to Statistics Canada, a total of 27,086 Canadian citizens and permanent residents emigrated from January to March 2025 — the second-highest first-quarter number since 2017.
This figure marks a three percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 26,293 individuals left the country. While more people are departing, the number of returnees has also seen a minor rise. In the first quarter of 2025, 9,676 people returned to Canada, up slightly from 9,393 during the same time in 2024.
The current pace suggests that 2025 could set new records for the number of people choosing to leave Canada, particularly as emigration typically peaks in the third quarter of the year.
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A Surge in Departures Among Non-Permanent Residents
The trend isn’t limited to citizens and permanent residents. Non-permanent residents — such as international students and temporary foreign workers — are also leaving in unprecedented numbers. In the first quarter of 2025, 209,400 non-permanent residents exited the country, marking a staggering 54 percent increase over the 135,360 who left in early 2024.
This dramatic rise follows the federal government’s announcement in May that it would further restrict the number of international students and temporary foreign workers, a move that is likely accelerating these departures.
Why Canadians Are Leaving: Historical Context and Patterns
The idea of Canadians leaving the country is nothing new. Since Statistics Canada began tracking these figures in the 1950s, emigration has been a consistent undercurrent in Canada’s population trends.
In fact, 2017 marked the highest emigration year on record. After a temporary dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers have been steadily rising again, suggesting that the pandemic pause was only a blip in a longer-term pattern.
What the Research Says: Who’s Most Likely to Leave?
A 2024 Statistics Canada study sheds light on which demographics are more likely to emigrate from Canada:
Time Since Arrival
People who have lived in Canada for three to seven years are significantly more likely to emigrate than those who have been in the country either a shorter or much longer time.
Age and Family Status
- Older adults aged 65 and over are more prone to leave.
- Immigrants without children also show a higher tendency to depart.
Occupation and Immigration Class
- Entrepreneurs and investors are more likely to emigrate than caregivers or refugees.
Education and Origin
Education appears to be a strong factor:
- Those with higher levels of education tend to be more mobile and more likely to leave Canada.
Country of origin also plays a key role:
- Immigrants from Taiwan, the United States, France, Hong Kong, and Lebanon show a higher likelihood of emigration.
- Conversely, individuals born in the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Jamaica are less likely to leave.
Looking Ahead: More Outflows on the Horizon?
With federal immigration policy tightening and economic conditions in flux, Canada may see this outflow trend continue — or even accelerate — in the coming quarters. While the reasons for leaving vary, the data clearly shows that Canada is facing a growing wave of outward migration, one shaped by personal circumstances, policy decisions, and global mobility trends.