Canada’s fertility levels hit record lows

Canada records lowest fertility rates on record in 2022

On Wednesday, Statistics Canada released its findings on fertility levels in Canada, which hit the lowest level ever recorded in history in 2022 since the government began tabulating this information more than a century ago.

The published figure is a significant drop from 2021, down 7.4% to 1.33 children per woman. The calculated normal rate to sustain a population of Canada’s size is 2.1 children per woman. A peak rate of 3.9 was reached in 1960, after a baby boom following World War II. 

Interestingly, while the country has recorded the lowest fertility rates on record, it has also recorded the highest immigration numbers since the 1950s. Regardless, both Canadian-born and immigrant Canadian populations are having fewer children. In other words, immigration appears to offer only a temporary solution.  This growing concern is particularly significant as the population, which surpassed 40 million last year, continues to age further.

Fertility rates in Canada have been consistently declining since 2009, and without timely interventions, the country could soon join the club of nations with the lowest fertility rates in the world. The declining fertility rates in Canada are often attributed to various factors, including economic challenges, the ever-increasing cost of living, and the impact of the pandemic. Many individuals and families cite these factors as significant obstacles that have disrupted their plans for starting or expanding their families. 

Source: Newsroom