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Canada has welcomed more than 3.9 million new citizens since 2005, with nearly one third coming from India, the Philippines or China.
Those countries have dominated migration to Canada for almost two decades, according to a CTVNews.ca analysis of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data, which tallies new Canadian citizens by country of birth from January 2005 through May 2024.
While new Canadians come from at least 196 different countries and territories, the top 10 places account for nearly half of all new citizens.
"Canada stands out among other immigrant-receiving countries in the very high level of citizenship among immigrants in the country," political sociologist and migration expert Irene Bloemraad told CTVNews.ca. "High levels of citizenship are a good thing: research shows a correlation between holding citizenship and better economic outcomes, a greater sense of belonging to Canada and, of course, the ability to participate in elections and have a say in policy."
India has held the top spot since 2021 and from 2007 to 2013, while the Philippines was No. 1 from 2014 to 2020. Together India and the Philippines account for nearly a quarter of all new citizens since 2005. China came in first in 2005 and 2006.
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