In 2024, Canada saw a dramatic rise in emigration, marking a significant shift in its population trends. For the first time in several years, thousands of Canadians packed their bags and decided to seek new opportunities abroad, driven by the search for lower living costs or a better quality of life. This movement has been gradually building, but 2024’s figures shattered previous records, highlighting a growing desire to leave the country for greener pastures.
According to a recent report by the rental platform liv.rent, based on Statistics Canada data, emigration from Canada reached its highest level since 2017, with 81,601 people leaving the country last year. What stands out even more is that Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, was the primary contributor to this exodus.
A staggering 48% of Canada’s emigrants in 2024 came from Ontario alone, signaling a profound shift. This marks the highest level of emigration from Ontario since 2011, suggesting that more and more Ontarians are turning their backs on Canada, seeking life beyond its borders. While Ontario’s larger population may explain part of its high emigration share, its 48% contribution far exceeds its 39% share of Canada’s total population. This indicates that Ontarians are leaving at a significantly higher rate than other Canadians.
The other provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec, followed suit but had much smaller shares of the emigrant population. British Columbia accounted for 18% of the total emigration, while both Alberta and Quebec contributed 13% each. Quebec’s share of 13% is particularly notable given that it holds 22% of the country’s total population, yet it only had the fourth-largest number of emigrants.
In addition to Ontario’s high emigration, the province also experienced the biggest net loss in interprovincial migration in 2024, with more people leaving Ontario for other parts of Canada than those moving to the province. On the flip side, Alberta remained the leading destination for Canadians relocating within the country, although its in-migration numbers saw a slight decline compared to 2023.
The overall emigration rate in Canada increased by 3% year-over-year, continuing an upward trajectory that began after the pandemic. This growing trend reflects the ongoing challenges that many Canadians face, particularly related to housing affordability and the high cost of living.
But it’s not just Canadian citizens and permanent residents leaving. There was also a significant drop in the net flow of non-permanent residents—such as temporary workers and international students—with Ontario again leading the way with a massive 66% decline in their numbers.
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As the cost of living continues to rise and housing affordability reaches crisis levels, it’s clear why more Canadians are considering life elsewhere. Whether driven by the search for better job opportunities, a more affordable lifestyle, or simply a change of scenery, 2024 has become a year of major transitions. And at the forefront of this wave of emigration are the people of Ontario, leading the charge out of the country in record numbers.
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