The World is Moving to Canada!
Millions of people around the world are on the move in pursuit of better opportunities in life and one of their top destinations is the beautiful country of Canada.
According to the United Nations (UN) International Migration Report 2013, there are 232 million migrants around the globe who are living outside of their countries of origin. The UN (2013) further reported that Europe is the top regional destination for international migrants, followed by #2 Asia, #3 North America, #4 Africa, #5 Latin America and The Caribbean, and #6 Oceania. More recent UN statistics released in 2015 report that there are 244 million migrants living outside of their country of origin. The UN further forecasts (2015) that the world's migrant population could soar to as many as 590 million by 2050.
Between 1990 and 2013, North America had the biggest increase in migrants, with 25 million people from across the planet moving there, according to the UN (2013). While the United States remains the world’s #1 immigration destination in absolute numbers, with approximately 42 million of its 318 million people (13 percent) born overseas, Canada actually has a higher percentage of its population who are foreign-born (seven-million out of 35 million or 20 percent of Canadian residents).
Sustained Canadian immigration has helped to make Canada one of the most multicultural countries on Earth. In fact, around 250,000 people are issued a permanent resident visa to Canada each year. Canada’s government reports that 51.4% of the people granted Canadian permanent residency in 2014 originated from the Asia/Pacific region; 23.9% from Africa and the Middle East; 11.6% from Europe and the United Kingdom; 9.6% from South and Central America; and 3.3% from the United States (sources of origin were not provided for the remaining 0.3%).
Why are hundreds of thousands of people moving to Canada each year? The reasons are as diverse as Canada’s cosmopolitan population, but one word that describes a common motivation is: opportunities.
Canada is an immigrant-friendly land of opportunities for people seeking a better life. For example, the 2015 Legatum Prosperity Index rated Canada #1 in the world for tolerance toward immigrants, #1 for personal freedom and #6 for prosperity, while The Economist (2015) declared Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary to be three of the top five “most livable cities in the world.”
Boasting one of the highest standards of living on Earth, it is not surprising that the UN considered Canadians to be the fifth happiest people on the planet in 2015.
Canada’s multicultural character, abundant opportunities and quality lifestyle also help explain why so many people move to this incredible country every year. If you would also like to move to Canada and want to find out if you which Canadian immigration program you are best-suited to apply for, click here!
