Immigrants now make up the largest share of Canada’s population in more than 150 years, according to Statistics Canada.

New data from the 2021 Census shows that 8.3 million people, or 23 per cent of the population, are or have been a landed immigrant or permanent resident.

StatCan said that was the largest proportion since Confederation, topping the previous record of 22.3 per cent set in 1921.

Just over 1.3 million new immigrants settled permanently in Canada from 2016 to 2021, the highest number of recent immigrants recorded in a Canadian census.

According to StatCan, the share of recent immigrants settling in Atlantic Canada has nearly tripled since 2006, rising from 1.2 per cent in 2006 to 3.5 per cent in 2021.

Over the 15-year period, the share of recent immigrants rose to 1.6 per cent in Nova Scotia, 1.2 per cent in New Brunswick, 0.4 per cent in Prince Edward Island, and 0.3 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The settlement of recent immigrants is especially notable in large urban centres, according to StatCan.

More than 48 per cent of all immigrants living in Moncton were admitted from 2016 to 2021. That number stands at 39 per cent in Fredericton, 36 per cent in Saint John, 35 per cent in Halifax, and 32 per cent in St. John’s.

More than half of recent immigrants living in Canada were admitted under the economic category. Just over two-thirds were selected through skilled worker programs or the Provincial Nominee Program.

Asia, including the Middle East, remained the continent of birth for most recent immigrants at 62 per cent.

Almost one-in-five recent immigrants were born in India, making it the leading country of birth for recent immigration to Canada.

The share of recent immigrants from Europe continued to decline, falling from nearly 62 per cent in 1971 to just 10 per cent in 2021.

Nearly 93 per cent of recent immigrants are able to conduct a conversation in either English or French.

You can view the full report by clicking here.