Newly-released census data is highlighting immigration to Canada between 2016-2021. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Census: Lethbridge welcomed 3,645 immigrants between 2016-2021

Oct 28, 2022 | 12:00 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Statistics Canada is highlighting recent trends in immigration.

According to new data being released from the 2021 federal census, 8.3 million people, or 23% of the national population are considered current or former landed immigrants or permanent residents of Canada.

Statistics Canada says “This was the largest proportion since Confederation, topping the previous 1921 record of 22.3%, and the highest among the G7 [countries].”

More than 1.3 million immigrants permanently settled in Canada between 2016-2021, which is also the largest number of recent immigrants recorded in a Canadian census.

Asia, including the Middle East, remained the continent of birth for the greatest number of recent immigrants to Canada, at 62%.

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India was the leading country of birth for recent immigrants, comprising 18.6% of all immigrants who came to Canada during the five-year period.

The share of recent immigrants from Europe continued to decline, falling from 61.6% in 1971 to 10.1% in 2021.

More than half of recent immigrants (56.3%) were admitted under the economic category, meaning they were admitted to Canada based on their potential economic contribution to meet labour market needs or to create new economic opportunities by owning, operating, or investing in a business.

Approximately 14.5% of people who immigrated to Canada between 2016-2021 settled in Alberta.

Lethbridge welcomed 3,645 immigrants to the city during that period.

The most common countries of birth for people who immigrated to Lethbridge between 2016-2021 are:

• Philippines – 730
• Syria – 245
• India – 210
• Nigeria – 145
• United States – 130

Statistics Canada says there were 11,345 immigrants to Lethbridge between 1980 and 2021 who lived in private households.

Of those, 5,700 were economic immigrants, 3,025 were refugees, 2,520 were sponsored by family, and 105 fell into other categories.

Prior to being admitted for immigration to Lethbridge, 2,090 had obtained work permits, 645 had work and study permits, 480 had only a study permit, 305 had made an asylum claim, and 7,745 had no pre-admission experience.

Statistics Canada also recently released census data on the religious and ethnic backgrounds of Canadians. Read more: Religious and ethnic demographics in Lethbridge, Alberta and Canada: Census