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Which immigrants leave Canada?
Statistics Canada followed immigrants admitted from 1982 to 2017 in tax data. Overall, 17.5% had left within 20 years. Among investors it was 41.1%; among caregivers 6.4%.
Study Statistics Canada, Feb. 2, 2024Cohorts 1982 to 2017
Left Canada within 20 years, by admission category
Cumulative share of adult immigrants (18+ at admission) estimated to have emigrated.
| Admission category | Within 5 years | Within 10 years | Within 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled workers | 6.1% | 12.7% | 21.5% |
| Canadian Experience Class | 9.6% | Not yet measurable | Not yet measurable |
| Provincial and territorial nominees | 4.4% | 10.4% | 18.7% |
| Caregivers | 2.0% | 3.7% | 6.4% |
| Entrepreneurs | 6.3% | 17.0% | 29.4% |
| Self-employed | 6.1% | 13.7% | 23.2% |
| Investors | 6.5% | 21.9% | 41.1% |
| Refugees | 2.3% | 4.9% | 9.3% |
| Family class | 5.2% | 9.2% | 14.6% |
| Other immigrants | 4.9% | 12.7% | 23.8% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Emigration of Immigrants: Results from the Longitudinal Immigration Database (91F0015M2024002, Feb. 2, 2024). The Canadian Experience Class began in 2008, so only its 5-year figure (9.6%) exists.
Share of immigrants who had left, by years since admission
All admission categories.
| Years since admission | Left Canada |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0.0% |
| 1 | 0.8% |
| 2 | 1.8% |
| 3 | 2.7% |
| 4 | 3.8% |
| 5 | 5.1% |
| 6 | 6.4% |
| 7 | 7.5% |
| 8 | 8.6% |
| 9 | 9.6% |
| 10 | 10.5% |
| 11 | 11.3% |
| 12 | 12.1% |
| 13 | 12.8% |
| 14 | 13.6% |
| 15 | 14.3% |
| 16 | 14.9% |
| 17 | 15.6% |
| 18 | 16.2% |
| 19 | 16.9% |
| 20 | 17.5% |
| 21 | 18.2% |
| 22 | 18.8% |
| 23 | 19.4% |
| 24 | 20.0% |
| 25 | 20.6% |
| 26 | 21.2% |
| 27 | 21.7% |
| 28 | 22.3% |
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How “left Canada” is measured.
- Statistics Canada counts an immigrant as an emigrant after they stop filing taxes for three years in a row (or report a departure), with checks to exclude deaths and people who stop filing for other reasons.
- Only permanent departures are counted; people who left and came back are not. The true share who ever leave is higher.
- Results are for adults admitted from 1982 to 2017 and may not describe recent cohorts.