CBC: Canada's acceptance of refugee claims has ballooned in last 6 years

The number of refugee claimants Canada has accepted has more than doubled since 2018. A CBC investigation has found that people from some countries have an easier time claiming asylum than others.

The number of refugee claimants granted asylum in Canada was close to 37,000 in 2023, up from just over 14,000 in 2018.
The recognition rate, which is determined by the number of accepted refugee claims divided by the total number of claims that have been decided by the Immigration and Refugee Board on merit, also increased to 82 per cent in the first nine months of 2024, from 64 per cent in 2018.

Much of the media coverage around asylum seekers has featured those who come to Canada from countries such as India, Haiti and Mexico. Around half the claims from these countries were accepted between January 2018 and Sept. 30, 2024.