Canada's population growth continues to slow
The population of Canada reached an estimated 41,798,407 people on July 1, 2026, an increase of 189,425 people (+0.5%) from July 1, 2025. This is the lowest growth in percentage since 1915/1916 (+20,000; +0.3%). On July 1, 2026, the median age in Canada was 40.9 years and the average age was 42.1 years. Meanwhile, the number of non-permanent residents in Canada dropped by 154,614 people on an annual (July to July) basis in 2025/2026, to reach 2,779,774 on July 1, 2026, or 6.7% of the total population.
Average weekly earnings increase on a year-over-year basis
The number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer was up by 26,100 (+0.1%) in July, following three consecutive increases from March to June, totalling 124,200 (+0.7%). On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment was up 171,900 (+0.9%) in July. Average weekly earnings ($1,347) were up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis in July. This follows an increase of 3.4% in June. Meanwhile, there were 501,000 job vacancies in Canada in July, marking a seventh consecutive month of little variation.
Source: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, and job vacancies, July 2026
Dissatisfaction with housing affordability increasing
In 2024, 23.2% of Canadian households lived in housing unaffordable to them, up from 22.0% in 2022. Renters (33.7%) were more likely than owners (17.4%) to live in unaffordable housing in 2024. Meanwhile, homeowners with a mortgage reported the sharpest increase in reported dissatisfaction, rising to 28.2% to reach a similar rate as renters living in market rental housing (28.9%), a group that historically had higher rates of dissatisfaction with affordability.
Relatively high but declining fentanyl levels in Metro Vancouver
From January 2024 to March 2026, Metro Vancouver consistently recorded the highest fentanyl levels among all cities monitored, as measured by the norfentanyl metabolite. However, measured average fentanyl levels were lower in 2025 and early 2026 than in 2024. Overall, from January 2024 to March 2026, measured methamphetamine levels were among the highest in cities in the Prairie provinces. While fentanyl remains central to Canada's overdose crisis, being involved in more than half (56%) of opioid-related deaths in 2025, stimulant use is also a significant source of substance-related harms nationally.
Source: Opioid and stimulant consumption patterns in select Canadian cities, January 2024 to March 2026
Household environmental practices and behaviours differ across homes and regions
The proportion of households that composted kitchen waste varied by dwelling characteristics, duration of residency, and location. For example, higher rates were observed in detached or ground-oriented dwellings (66% to 74%) than apartments and/or flats (49%). Compared with larger urban centres (75%), lower composting rates were observed in other population areas (53% to 64%), while rates were highest in Prince Edward Island (96%) and Nova Scotia (92%).
Accommodation and food services businesses among those up for grabs
In the third quarter of 2026, approximately one in five (20.3%) businesses in Canada said that they intend to sell or transfer ownership within the next 10 years. Other businesses either did not intend to sell or transfer ownership within the next 10 years (42.6%), or their plans were unknown (37.1%). Over one-third (34.4%) of owners in the accommodation and food services sector intend to sell or transfer their business within the next 10 years—the highest rate among sectors.
Source: One in five Canadian businesses intends to sell or transfer—how many will change hands?
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).