Fewer people called Canada home last year, the first drop in population in the country’s history.

According to preliminary estimates, the population of Canada decreased by more than 103,000 people from October 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the population dropped by almost 200 after steadily increasing throughout the year. The number of residents is now 548,557, down from 549,738.

From October 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026, the preliminary estimates from Statistics Canada show that British Columbia (-0.4%), Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Ontario (all -0.3%) had the largest rates of population decrease among the provinces and territories.

Over the same period, Alberta (+0.1%) had the fastest growth rate of any province or territory.