Canada’s temporary population boom may be over, but its long-term resident outflow is just beginning. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows emigration—the act of citizens or permanent residents permanently leaving—jumped higher in Q1 2025. Canadians left in the second-highest Q1 volume on record—a trend that’s only gained momentum since the pandemic.
Canadian Emigration: It’s Like Capital Flight But With Talent
Emigration is when a Canadian or permanent resident leaves the country permanently. Outflows happen, but persistent and rising outflows indicate growing discontent with local conditions—whether it’s economic, political, housing, or brain drain. Ultimately, it signals a country failing to offer opportunity or inspire long-term confidence. It’s not just any group leaving either—it’s primarily talented, prime-aged workers with the most opportunities.
Policymakers don’t pay much attention to the gross volumes, preferring net numbers. As long as they can make more Canadians than they lose, a worker is a worker. Replacing an experienced worker with a fresh graduate isn’t a straight trade—at least not immediately. It ignores the fact that Canadian talent is also some of the most coveted in the world. Training new talent while ignoring losses after they’re trained isn’t a benefit to Canada. It’s a competitive edge to the countries we’re losing these people to.
When policymakers start to frame talent as replaceable or frame those who leave as the problem, we’re cooked. They’re not focusing on long-term success, but on short-term optics and insider deals. In other words, the longer they ignore the outflow, the more talented labor should consider external opportunities—at least temporarily.
That said, let’s look at the data.
Canadians Permanently Left In The Second-Highest Volume Ever
Canadian emigration: The number of Canadian citizens and permanent residents that permanently left the country in the first quarter.
Source: Statistics Canada; Better Dwelling.
Canada’s population growth rate is stalling, but emigration retained its breakneck growth rate. The country estimates 27.1k Canadians emigrated in Q1 2025, a 3% increase from last year—which also saw 3% growth. Second only to 2017, it was the largest Q1 outflow ever recorded.
Emigration is a seasonal trend, and that can be bad news. The highest volume tends to occur in Q3, and if this trend persists we may have another record-setting year on our hands.
Canada Losing Long-Term Residents Is A Long-Term Trend
Historically, Canada is known for its population retention. From the 1950s through the 1990s, quarterly emigration has largely remained below 10k people. After 2000, emigration began climbing steadily—likely due to increased global opportunities. However, post-2021 we see clear and persistent growth that is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Several quarters breach 15k emigrants, with 2025 kicking off one of the strongest trends on record.
Annual growth highlights how persistent this rising trend has become. The 12-month period ending in Q1 2025 saw 106.9k emigrants, up 3% from a year prior. Aside from a spike in 2017, this is the highest sustained outflow since the 1960s.
Canada’s focus on rapid population growth has proven to be destabilizing in many aspects—from housing to employment opportunities. Policymakers have pledged to throttle the growth and focus on domestic development, which is a good first step. But the damage is done, and outflows are accelerating—meaning policymakers need to prove their promises weren’t just election window dressing.
Capital flight is widely recognized as a serious issue—money leaving the country signals eroding confidence. But capital isn’t just financial; it also includes people, along with the social and economic value they create. Canada’s rising emigration is human capital flight—and that’s a far more serious problem.