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Why is Canada’s Population So Low?

November 28, 2021BY Immigration In Canada

Canada is a big country with a 36 million population. The population density per square kilometer is only 4. And this is why, in terms of population, they are one of the lowest populated countries.

In Canada, you will see miles upon miles of deserted land without signs of people. But do you know, despite being a gigantic and developed country, why is Canada’s population so low?

In this write-up, I’ll discuss the reasons in detail. So, without further ado, let’s jump into the facts.

Canada Area and Population Density

In Canada, the cities are full of people and activities. More than 80 percent of people live in urban areas. Meanwhile, Toronto is one of the largest cities in the world. The population density of this city is 2930 per square kilometer.

On the other hand, A large number of people live close to the border with the US.

One of the main reasons for this is that the majority of Canadian trades are with their neighbors. Therefore, they try to live as close as possible.

Low Birth Rate in Canada

Historically, the long-term trend of declining birth and death rates results in great change in the population. You can say this is the main reason behind the lower population in Canada.

In this country, the death rates are reducing due to advanced medical technology. So, people get to live longer. But at the same time, birth rates are declining more because of social changes.

Here people have high expectations in life. As they know they will live longer, they want to secure their future. So, most of them don’t like having a family. Thus, the childbirth rate is very low in Canada.

In a situation like this, developed countries start to accept immigrants to meet the population deficit. But Canada has a lot of issues in this sector too.

In the following section, I will explain them in detail.

8 Reasons Why is Canada’s Population So Low Despite Immigration

Now it’s time to explore the causes of why Canada doesn’t get more immigrants. I have listed the main ones below. Check them out.

1. The Rough Weather

Canada is an extremely cold country. No wonder why hockey is the most popular sport here. The winter tends to stay from November to March. In winter, the temperature can reach below -50 degrees Celsius! However, it can snow at random times throughout the year. Just imagine how cold they are!

This particular reason is enough to discourage many people from coming here. Especially people in warmer countries like India, or the people who simply hate cold weather and don’t want to live here.

Moreover, Canada’s population density also varies mainly because of this reason. The southern part of the country is comparatively warmer. Here winters are not harsh, and summers are not cold, making these lands suitable for agriculture.

Therefore, when Canada started to industrialize, they chose the land where people already were. So, naturally, the population has grown more in this area.

2. Difficult Immigration/Acquiring Process

The visa processing work in Canada is quite difficult. They focus on various factors to determine your eligibility. Since this is a bilingual country, your eligibility might be judged based on your education and IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

Along with these, spouse adaptability, working experience, the amount of money you are coming with, whether you have any relatives in the country or not, etc., are also important factors.

This process is even more difficult because of the pandemic restriction. That’s why this country saw a record-low increase in population in 2020.

3. Highest Cost of Living

The cost of living in Canadian cities is so expensive. This is another downside of living in Canada. You know, Toronto has a higher average rental than average market rent.

Furthermore, the utility bill also costs extra since it takes more electricity to heat your home during the long winter.

4. Driving is Difficult Here

You might think it’s funny, but the truth is you need a vehicle to get around if you aren’t in the main cities. Hence you need a driving license and enough money to buy and maintain a car to live in this country.

And buying a car isn’t the only problem, you have to deal with unpredictable weather with sharp and windy roads as well as an excessive amount of wildlife. You know, you can consider yourself extremely lucky if you haven’t hit a deer yet.

Moreover, sometimes roads are not always cleared after a snowfall. In a time like this, it becomes quite challenging to drive, let alone walk in barefoot

5. Uninhabitable Forested Land

Surprisingly, forty-two percent of the whole land of Canada is forest. It is 10% of the total forest land of the world.

Forestry is the largest industry in Canada. It creates a wide range of jobs and has a direct contribution to the country’s economy. It has more contribution than the other energy sectors of the country.

Considering these, the government tries its best to protect the land. And that’s why they are determined to remain like this.

We must say that this is a praiseworthy matter since deforestation is an alarming issue for the world. But still, this kind of environment is not ideal for human habitation.

6. Vast Undeveloped Area

National Parks are one of the main assets of Canada. You might think that they are simply tourist spots to attract visitors from foreign countries. But to keep them like this, the government has to give up the idea of development.

No railroads, cities, factories, etc., are built in these areas, which purposely keeps away the people. Moreover, the parks that are far north are not even reachable by people easily.

On the other hand, the parks that are made for tourists are heavily monitored. The tourist can set up their tents only in the designated location. They are not allowed to hunt or make camps as they wish.

So, even if people want to utilize this vast area for living, the authorities won’t help or even allow it.

7. Uninhabitable Territories

Northwest, Yukon, and Nunavut – are the three territories of Canada. The combined population of these three is less than the population of Prince Edward Island, which is the smallest province in Canada.

These lands are uninhabitable. Nanuvat and Northwest Territories are made up of Arctic Tundra. Although the Northwest Territories are slightly warmer, they are not that comfortable. Furthermore, most of the Yukon has brief warm summers and long, harsh winters.

So unless you are an Eskimo, you won’t find this kind of weather human-friendly. Anyway, the low population of these lands creates a huge effect on the average population density in Canada.

8. Lack of Tourist Attractions Outside of Large Cities

Most of the main cities of Canada are located around or near tourist spots. Toronto has the world-renowned Niagara Falls and the CN Tower. Lakes, rocky mountains, West Edmonton Mall, etc. main tourist attractions of Canada are also surrounded by big cities like Vancouver, Banff, and Edmonton.

But the hard truth is, the places that are not in any cities don’t get the spotlight. The things I mentioned above have their charms, but just think how much you miss them if you don’t want to explore anything outside of the town.

Anyways, this thing also has a bad impact on population density. People tend to live in popular places. That’s why a vast area remains untouched.

Well, these are the facts behind why is Canada’s population so small. Hopefully, you don’t have any more questions to ask. So, let’s conclude the topic for now.

Is Canada Underpopulated?

Canada is a large country with a relatively small population compared to its land area. However, whether or not Canada is considered underpopulated depends on various factors and perspectives.

In terms of population density, Canada has a population is more than 38 million people, which is relatively low compared to other developed countries. However, Canada’s population is also concentrated in certain urban areas, while many rural areas have a much lower population density.

From an economic perspective, some industries and regions in Canada may require more workers and could benefit from a higher population. However, other regions may already be facing issues with limited resources and environmental sustainability, which could be exacerbated by a larger population.

Overall, whether or not Canada is considered underpopulated depends on the specific context and perspectives of the discussion.

Final Words

By this time, you know why is Canada’s population so low. Canada is indeed a beautiful country with lots of opportunities. But the uninhabitable lands are what makes the population density so low.

However, if you move around the cities, you might be surprised to see the huge number of people. Here cities are densely populated and full of life.

So, don’t think you won’t find any friends here. Just be ready to move into this amazing country and meet lots of amazing people!

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    Frequently Asked Question

    To get permanent residency, you have to live for at least three years in Canada. You also need some other documents to apply for Citizenship.

    In generally takes six months to get the citizenship after taking the Citizenship Test and Interview.

    People aged between 18 to 54 have to take the citizenship test and Interview.

    Oath taking ceremony generally takes 45 to 60 mins to complete. However, the time may vary upon the number of applicants and citizens.

    Yes, any Citizen who is a Canadain Citizen can renounce his citizenship status if he wants. He may apply for renouncing the citizenship under certain conditions.

    The answer is yes. You can again apply to resume your Citizenship status though you have renounced it once.

    The total fees for applying for Citizenship in Canada is CAN $ 630. Among the prices, $530 is for processing fee, and $100 is for the right of  Citizenship fee. But for minors aged under 18, the processing fee is $100.

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