International immigration accounted for most of the growth in Canada’s population.

This comes despite border and travel restrictions due the COVID-19 pandemic that started last year.

A report says the country’s population grew by 208,904 year-over-year to an estimated 38,246,108 as of July 1, 2021.

Statistics Canada reported on September 29 that international immigration contributed 156,503 to this growth.

Restrictions due to COVID-19 have affected immigration.

Statistics Canada recalled that compared to the annual increase of 156,503 due to newcomers as of July 1, 2021, there were twice as many arrivals in 2019-2020 with at least 362,558 people.

“Although international migration has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic levels, some signs of recovery have been seen since the beginning of 2021,” the federal agency also noted.

Statistics Canada stated that international immigration rose from 24,329 in the second quarter of 2020 to 75,084 in the same quarter of 2021.

“Nevertheless, this growth is lower than the estimated growth for the second quarter of 2019 (+153,468), before the pandemic,” the agency related.

It noted that population growth has “slowed following border restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19”.

On October 30, 2020, Immigration, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released details on the federal government’s immigration levels plan for 2021-2023.

IRCC stated that Canada aims to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021.

The new arrivals will be followed by 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.

Canada relies on immigration to boost its population due to low birth rates in the country.