A new study from Western University found that fertility rates among immigrants in Canada have declined significantly over the past two decades, narrowing the gap with native-born Canadians.

Analyzing long-form census data from 2001 to 2021, researchers found that the difference fell from 0.24 to 0.11 births per woman. The study also identified considerable variation across immigrant groups: economic immigrants and temporary residents recorded the lowest fertility levels, while individuals who arrived in Canada before age 15 had lower fertility than native-born Canadians.

In addition, immigrant women from most of Canada's major source countries now have lower fertility in Canada than women in their countries of origin. The authors conclude that while immigration remains important for supporting Canada's labour force and economy, it is unlikely to provide a long-term solution to the country's demographic pressures on its own.

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