Newfoundland and Labrador is in a major struggle trying to retain immigrants.

Statistics Canada says the country welcomed about 125,000 immigrants in the third quarter of this year, with every province attracting fewer newcomers in that quarter than in the previous three months.

The July-September period marked the first time that Newfoundland and Labrador lost people (-471) to other provinces and territories since the third quarter of 2020.

The province’s retention rate for immigrants fell by 14 per cent in 2020-21, the largest decline of the four Atlantic provinces.

Meanwhile, updated census data from Stats Canada puts the population of Newfoundland and Labrador at just over 545,000 at the end of October 2024.