The population of Newfoundland and Labrador dropped the last quarter of the year, the first such shift in quite some time.

The number of people who called this province home went up the last quarter of 2024, and the first three quarters of 2025 but the trend reversed direction in October, November and December.

According to Statistics Canada, the population of NL was 549,911 at the end of September but by the end of December, there were 220 fewer people in the province.

Our Maritime cousins found themselves in a similar boat, each having experienced a reduction in their population.

Canada also took a hit, going down to 41.5-million in the last quarter of the year from 41.6-million.