PEI Population Report Quarterly

Population Report, Fourth Quarter 2022

DIAGRAM 1: PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND POPULATION, QUARTERLY, 2018 - 2023

On March 22, 2023 Statistics Canada published its provincial population estimates for the fourth quarter of 2022. The data shows Prince Edward Island’s population is estimated to be 173,954 as of January 1, 2023. This represents a yearly increase of 7,096 persons, the highest year-over-year increase on current record. This year-over-year growth rate was 4.3 per cent, the highest growth rate among provinces and territories, ahead of Alberta at 3.7 per cent growth. This compares to a rate of 2.7 per cent for Canada as a whole.

The quarterly estimates since October 1, 2020 and growth rates for Canada and Prince Edward Island can be seen in Table 1.

TABLE 1: NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL POPULATION & GROWTH RATES, QUARTERLY

All jurisdictions recorded population increases January 1, 2023 compared to January 1, 2022, with the exception of the Northwest Territories which declined 0.5 per cent. Population estimates for January 1, 2022 and 2023 for all provinces and territories are shown in Table 2 below. The population growth rates and level change for the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2022 are also included.

TABLE 2: POPULATION OF PROVINCES & TERRITORIES, JANUARY 1, 2022, 2023 & ANNUAL GROWTH RATES

Components of Growth

The total increase in PEI’s population from October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 was 1,247 people.

Natural Increase

There were 375 births and 386 deaths on Prince Edward Island from October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, resulting in natural growth (births minus deaths) of -11.

International Migration

The fourth quarter of 2022 saw 312 immigrants come to PEI. On a year-over-year basis, this is a 63.3 per cent decline (as compared to the fourth quarter of 2021). Immigration levels during the second half of 2021 were elevated as COVID-19 border restrictions were lifted. At a rate of 1.8 per thousand , PEI’s immigration rate was below the national rate of 2.1 per thousand.  

Net international migration for PEI was estimated to be 725 persons during the fourth quarter of 2022. This consisted of the 312 international immigrants, 437 non-permanent residents (net), and 16 returning Canadians entering the province, while 30 international emigrants and 10 temporarily abroad Canadians left the province. Net international migration for PEI over the last 12-month period (January 2022 to December 2022) was 5,035. This compares to 2,976 over the previous 12-month period.

Net non-permanent residents (NPRs)  was 437 for the fourth quarter of 2022, following 1,195 for the third quarter. NPRs include foreign workers, foreign students, the humanitarian population and other temporary residents. The humanitarian population includes refugee claimants and temporary residents who are allowed to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds and are not categorized as either foreign workers or foreign students.

Inter-provincial Migration

A total of 1,323 inter-provincial migrants came to PEI during the fourth quarter of 2022, while 790 people left the province for other areas of Canada, for a net interprovincial gain of 533 people. This compares to a net gain of 284 persons over the same period in 2021. As shown in Table 3, the primary source of PEI’s inter-provincial in-migrants during this period was from Ontario, followed by Alberta and Nova Scotia. The main destinations of out-migrants from Prince Edward Island were Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. 37.0 per cent of all interprovincial migrants from other provinces were destined for Alberta.

TABLE 3: ORIGIN & DESTINATION OF INTER-PROVINCIAL MIGRANTS, OCTOBER 1, 2022 TO DECEMBER 31, 2022

Prince Edward Island quarterly components of growth from July 1, 2020 to January 1, 2023 can be seen in table 4.

TABLE 4: PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND QUARTERLY POPULATION AND COMPONENTS OF GROWTH JULY 1 2020 – JANUARY 1 2023

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