N.B. loses most pandemic-population gain from other provinces, immigration continues to rise

The rush of people moving to New Brunswick from other provinces has slowed down to a trickle, with international immigration continuing to lead as a source of population growth.

Since the pandemic, more people have moved to New Brunswick from other provinces than internationally, but international immigration continues to increase, while interprovincial migration is returning to pre-pandemic levels.

As a whole, New Brunswick gained about 72,400 people since January 2021.

Interprovincial migration — people moving to New Brunswick from other provinces such as Ontario and Alberta — did spike in 2020 and 2021. But Statistics Canada estimates show that New Brunswick is returning to the trend of more people moving out, than in.

Estimates show the province has lost more than 70 per cent of people it gained from interprovincial migration since 2021.

About 65,500 people have moved to New Brunswick from other provinces — the majority from Ontario — since January 2021, according to Statistics Canada.

At the same time, 47,600 moved out of New Brunswick to other provinces, netting a population increase estimate of 17,900 from interprovincial migration.

Also since the pandemic, New Brunswick has gained about 40,000 permanent immigrants, estimates show. According to Statistics Canada, "immigrants" refers to people who obtained permanent residence in the province.

The statistics agency said some immigrants also later moved to another province during the period of 2021 to 2024, and it does not specifically track that number.

Temporary foreign workers and international students account for a net increase in population of about 25,700.

Statistics Canada defines non-permanent immigrants as people from another country who live in Canada with a work or study permit, or those who have claimed asylum in Canada. They are sometimes also referred to as temporary residents.

In 2005, New Brunswick began seeing deaths outnumber births.

The number fluctuated between positive and negative until late 2016, when the population began steadily decreasing, with no gains from new births. Since 2023, the province lost between 750 and 1,100 people each quarter, as deaths continue to outnumber births.

As more people are again moving to other provinces, immigration continues to be the lead source of population increase. 

The New Brunswick government has celebrated population increases because of the positive impact they can have on the economy and maintaining the workforce.

A large population increase without construction keeping pace is also presenting housing challenges. New Brunswickers are also experiencing challenges to accessing health care because of a lack of staff.

The government has committed to addressing these issues and accommodate the increase in population.