In the decades from 1861 to 1901, the population increased slowly by a few million, at an annual average growth rate of less than 1.3% per year (Figure 1).
Between 1901 and 1921, the population increased almost 3% a year on average. Then it gradually slowed in the following decades, to just above 1% between 1931 and 1941, a level not previously seen.
In the decades from 1941 to 1971, the population increased owing to the baby-boom and strong immigration. During this period, the annual average growth rate was slightly more than 2.1%.
Since the early 1970s, the rate of population growth has held at just over 1% per year on average.
Over the past 10 years, with an annual average growth rate of just over 1%, Canada's population has grown at the fastest pace of any of the G8 countries.