B.C. population declines 0.4 per cent in late 2025 as non-permanent resident numbers fall

British Columbia’s population declined by 0.4 per cent in the final three months of 2025, according to new data released by Statistics Canada, driven largely by a drop in non-permanent residents.

Statistics Canada reports that over the full year, B.C.’s population fell by about 41,000 people – roughly equivalent to the population of Mission. The agency attributes much of the decline to a reduction in non-permanent residents, which decreased by 6.7 per cent in the fourth quarter alone.

Ontario and British Columbia both recorded overall population declines of 0.7 per cent in 2025, reflecting a broader national trend tied to changes in temporary residency levels and migration patterns. Statistics Canada noted the figures could shift in the coming months if more permit extensions are approved.

Interprovincial migration trends also continued to favour Alberta, which remained the top destination for Canadians moving between provinces for a 14th consecutive reporting period. The number of people moving to Alberta was nearly three times higher than those relocating to B.C. during the same period.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Alberta recorded a net gain of 3,684 people from other provinces, while British Columbia saw a smaller net gain of 1,227 from interprovincial migration.