PEI Population Report Quarterly

Population Report, First Quarter 2023

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

On June 28, 2023 Statistics Canada published its provincial population estimates for the first quarter of 2023. The data shows Prince Edward Island’s population was estimated to be 176,113 as of April 1, 2023. This represents a yearly increase of 7,755 persons or a 4.6 per cent annual growth rate. This is the largest year-over-year population increase for PEI on record (since 1951). This is also the highest year-over-year growth rate among provinces and territories, ahead of Alberta and Nova Scotia, which were 4.5 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively. This compares to a rate of 3.1 per cent for Canada as a whole.

The quarterly estimates since January 1, 2021 and growth rates for Canada and Prince Edward Island can be seen in Table 1.

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

Northwest Territories was the only jurisdiction to see a year-over-year population decline (April 1, 2023 compared to April 1, 2022). Population estimates for April 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 March 31, 2023 are also included.

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

Components of Growth

The total increase in PEI’s population during the first quarter of 2023 (January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023) was 2,159 people, the second highest quarterly increase on record. (The third quarter of 2022 saw PEI’s population increase by 2,330.)

Natural Increase

There were 424 births and 375 deaths on Prince Edward Island from January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023, resulting in natural growth (births minus deaths) of +49.

International Migration

During first quarter 2023, 1,274 international immigrants came to the province, the most on current record for one quarter. This is up 95.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis as compared to the first quarter of 2022. At a rate of 7.3 per thousand , the province had the second highest quarterly immigration rate in the country, behind Yukon at 7.7 per thousand. The immigration rate for Canada was 3.7 per thousand.

Net international migration was estimated to be 1,320 persons during the first quarter of 2023. This consisted of the aforementioned 1,274 international immigrants plus 66 non-permanent residents (net), and 13 returning Canadians entering the province, while 22 international emigrants and 11 temporarily abroad Canadians left the province. Net international migration for PEI over the last 12-month period (April 2022 to March 2023) was 5,671. This compares to 2,959 over the previous 12-month period.

Net non-permanent residents (NPRs)  was +66 for the first quarter of 2023, following +437 for the fourth quarter of 2022. 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 1,879 inter-provincial migrants came to PEI during the first quarter of 2023, while 1,089 people left the province for other areas of Canada, for a net interprovincial gain of 790. This compares to a net gain of 808 persons over the same period in 2022. As shown in Table 3, the primary source of PEI’s inter-provincial in-migrants during this period was from Ontario, followed by Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The main destinations of out-migrants from Prince Edward Island were Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia. 37.0 per cent of all interprovincial migrants from other provinces were destined for Alberta.

TABLE 3: ORIGIN & DESTINATION OF INTER-PROVINCIAL MIGRANTS, JANUARY 1, 2023 TO MARCH 31, 2023

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

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

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