Key takeaways
- 2025/2026: about 303,746 full-time international students in public colleges and universities (Statistics Canada estimate)
- That is down 29% from 428,077 in 2023/2024, back to about the level of 2021/2022
- Colleges fell 42% and universities fell 17% over the same two years
- New college students fell 75% and new university students fell 46% compared with 2023/2024
- IRCC plans 155,000 new student arrivals in 2026 and 150,000 a year in 2027 and 2028
How many international students are in Canada now?
On May 5, 2026, StatCan put out new estimates for international students. They count full-time students in public colleges and universities, in programs longer than one year. The numbers for the two latest years are preliminary.
- 2023/2024: 428,077 students (the last year of official data)
- 2024/2025: 410,466 students (down 4%)
- 2025/2026: 303,746 students (down 26%)
Over the two years, the number fell by about 124,000, or 29%. StatCan says this brings the total back to about the 2021/2022 level. The same release says the number grew eightfold from 2003/2004 to 2023/2024 before it fell.
Why do different sources give different numbers?
You will see very different totals in the news. They count different things. Here are three official counts.
| What is counted | Number | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time international students in public colleges and universities (programs over one year) | 303,746 (estimate) | 2025/2026 | Statistics Canada estimate, May 2026 |
| All international enrolments at public colleges and universities, including part-time | 572,961 | Fall 2023 | Statistics Canada, Postsecondary Student Information System |
| People in Canada with a study permit (alone or with a work permit), not counting asylum claimants | 619,903 | July 1, 2026 | Statistics Canada, table 17-10-0121-01 |
The study permit count is the widest. It includes children in kindergarten to grade 12, students at private schools and language schools, and people between programs. The enrolment count includes part-time students and counts programs, not people.
Study permit holders peaked at 1,016,779 on July 1, 2024. By July 1, 2026, the number was 39% lower.
International students by year: colleges and universities
| Academic year | Colleges | Universities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/2020 | 98,247 | 191,012 | 289,259 |
| 2020/2021 | 85,840 | 191,632 | 277,472 |
| 2021/2022 | 108,619 | 201,026 | 309,645 |
| 2022/2023 | 146,583 | 208,842 | 355,425 |
| 2023/2024 | 206,013 | 222,064 | 428,077 |
| 2024/2025 (estimate) | 200,374 | 210,092 | 410,466 |
| 2025/2026 (estimate) | 120,130 | 183,616 | 303,746 |
Full-time students in public institutions only. Source: Statistics Canada, chart 1 of the May 5, 2026 release. Totals are our sums of the two columns.
Colleges grew fastest before 2024 and fell fastest after. In 2025/2026, colleges had 42% fewer international students than in 2023/2024. Universities had 17% fewer. StatCan says the college number is now below 2021/2022, and the university number is below 2019/2020.
Which levels of study fell the most?
| Level | 2023/2024 | 2025/2026 (estimate) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| College | 206,013 | 120,130 | -42% |
| Bachelor’s | 148,712 | 122,028 | -18% |
| Master’s | 51,354 | 42,075 | -18% |
| Doctoral | 21,998 | 19,513 | -11% |
Source: Statistics Canada, chart 2 of the May 5, 2026 release.
New students fell much more than total students. Compared with 2023/2024, new international college students in 2025/2026 were down by about 102,188 (75%). New university students were down by 36,740 (46%). Students who started before the cap are still finishing their programs, so the total falls more slowly than new arrivals.
Which provinces lost the most international students?
StatCan’s estimates for the change from 2023/2024 to 2025/2026:
| Region | Change, 2023/2024 to 2025/2026 | Share of Canada’s international students, 2025/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | -36% | 54% |
| Atlantic provinces | -26% | 6% |
| British Columbia | -24% | 12% |
| Prairie provinces | -17% | 13% |
| Quebec | -14% | 15% |
Ontario lost about 92,000 international students over the two years. Its share fell from 60% in 2023/2024 to 54% in 2025/2026. Ontario has 39% of Canada’s population, so it still has more than its share of students. Quebec, British Columbia and the Prairies have fewer students than their share of the population.
For the 2026 letters each province can issue, see the study permit cap and PAL rules.
Why did the number of international students fall?
StatCan links the drop to federal limits on study permits. In its notes, it says Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aimed to cut new study permits by 35% in 2024 from 2023. It aimed to cut them by another 10% in 2025. Provinces and territories also got their own caps.
The limits go on:
- 2026: IRCC plans to issue 408,000 study permits, with 155,000 for new arrivals (IRCC, November 25, 2025).
- 2027 and 2028: the 2026-2028 immigration levels plan sets 150,000 new student arrivals each year.
- Wider goal: the government promised to bring temporary residents below 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2027.
Other rule changes also affect demand, such as stricter work permit rules after you finish school. Check the PGWP eligibility checker for the current rules.
What these numbers mean for new students
The numbers describe the whole country. They do not tell you your chances at one school. Some points to keep in mind:
- Letters are still limited. Most college and bachelor’s students still need a provincial attestation letter (PAL). Each province shares a fixed number among its schools.
- Programs can change. Check that your program is still offered for your start date before you pay a deposit.
- Costs keep rising. International tuition still went up in 2026/2027. See why international tuition keeps rising.
- College and university are different paths. Compare them in college vs university.
About this data
- Main source: Statistics Canada, “Estimating the international student population in Canada using administrative data: A feasibility study, 2025/2026”, The Daily, May 5, 2026, with charts 1 and 2.
- Who is counted: full-time international students in programs of more than one year at public colleges and universities. Private schools and part-time students are not counted.
- Early numbers: 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 are estimates. They are based on study permit data and past patterns. StatCan will update them.
- Other counts: enrolments come from the Postsecondary Student Information System (November 20, 2025). Study permit holders come from table 17-10-0121-01 (checked October 10, 2026). StatCan updates that table, so older news stories may show other numbers.
- Last checked: October 10, 2026.
Common questions
How many international students are in Canada in 2026?
Are international student numbers going down?
Did colleges or universities lose more international students?
Which province has the most international students?
How many new international students will Canada accept?
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Estimating the international student population in Canada, 2025/2026 (The Daily, May 5, 2026)
- Statistics Canada: Chart 1, international students by institution type
- Statistics Canada: Chart 2, international students by level of study
- Statistics Canada: Feasibility study (catalogue 81-595-M2026001)
- Statistics Canada: Canadian postsecondary enrolments and graduates, 2023/2024 (November 20, 2025)
- Statistics Canada: Table 17-10-0121-01, non-permanent residents by type
- IRCC: 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap
- IRCC: Supplementary information, 2026-2028 immigration levels plan