Canadian Immigration Changing Over Time
Data recently released by the Pew Research Center in May 2016 reveals that immigration to Canada has seen major changes over the past several years.
In the past, the largest number of people to immigrate to Canada came from European countries (such the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany) as well as from the United States.
As of 1990, for example, the #1 source country for immigrants living in Canada was the UK (690,000), followed by #2 Italy (340,000), #3 United States (240,000) and #4 Hong Kong, with Germany (170,000), China (170,000) and India (170,000) tied for 5th place.
During the last decade, however, Canada has become an even more diverse democracy, with people from Asian countries now accounting for the biggest groups that have been approved for Canadian immigration.
The Pew Research Center (May 2016) reports that as of 2015, people originating from China were the biggest immigrant group in Canada (710,000), followed by #2 India (620,000), #3 United Kingdom (610,000), #4 The Philippines (550,000), and #5 United States (340,000).
Thus, while Canada was initially colonized and settled by European powers, such as the British and French, the Canadian population in 2016 has become one of the most multicultural in the world.
Canada’s increasingly cosmopolitan character reflects a global trend, in which millions of people from around the globe are moving to countries where they can find better opportunities for employment and a brighter future.
According to Trends in International Migration, 2015, published by the United Nations in December 2015, there are 244 million people living outside of their home country, with individuals born in Asian countries such as India, China, Bangladesh and The Philippines accounting for almost half of all international migrants living abroad.
The UN report (2015) also states that the majority of the 244 million international migrants are working age (median age 39 years-old).
Consequently, it is not surprising that thousands of skilled foreign workers from India, China, The Philippines and many other countries across the planet are choosing to immigrate to Canada which is one of the world's top immigration destinations, according to the UN's International Migration Report 2015, published in 2016.
Canadian immigration offers skilled foreign workers excellent career options, particularly since there is an ongoing shortage of qualified workers to fill thousands of jobs in Canada.
People who live in Canada also enjoy one of the highest standards of living on Earth in one of the planet’s most prosperous and peaceful countries.
Regardless of which country you were born in or where you are living now, Canadian immigration can open the door to a world of possibilities for you and your family.
To find out if you are likely to meet the eligibility requirements for immigration to Canada, click here!
