Observatório da Emigração

Canada

24/11/2022

A. Annual series

A.1 Foreign-born population, 1996-2021

(Individuals)

Years	Total Population		Foreign-born
	Total Population		All foreign-born			Born in Portugal
	N	Change in	N	% of total	Change in	N	% of total	As a % of all foreign-born	Change in
2021	36,328,475	-3.8	9,606,600	26.4	19.4	133,695	0.4	1.4	-11.0
2020	37,742,157	0.9	8,049,323	21.3	1.1	150,166	0.4	1.9	1.1
2019	37,411,047	2.2	7,960,657	21.3	1.3	148,513	0.4	1.9	-7.8
2017	36,624,199	6.3	7,861,226	21.5	-4.4	161,055	0.4	2.0	12.5
2016	34,460,060	-4.4	8,219,550	23.9	10.6	143,160	0.4	1.8	3.3
2015	36,026,668	9.7	7,428,657	20.6	2.9	138,589	0.4	1.9	-1.2
2011	32,852,325	-3.8	7,217,295	22.0	6.8	140,310	0.4	2.0	1.3
2010	34,147,566	9.3	6,761,226	19.8	9.3	138,520	0.4	2.0	-7.9
2006	31,241,030	-2.9	6,186,950	19.8	1.8	150,390	0.5	2.4	6.6
2005	32,164,313	7.2	6,078,985	18.9	11.6	141,057	0.4	2.3	-8.1
2001	30,007,095	-1.9	5,448,480	18.2	-1.2	153,530	0.5	2.8	-0.5
2000	30,588,379	6.0	5,511,914	18.0	10.9	154,283	0.5	2.8	-2.8
1996	28,846,761	..	4,971,070	17.2	..	158,815	0.6	3.2	..

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 24/11/2022

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Metadata

Note Data obtained by sampling (about 20% of the total population). The data for 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 were reviewed by the UN and amended by OEm on 24/11/2022.

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Statistics Canada, Census, Nascidos no estrangeiro, 1996; Nascidos no estrangeiro e em Portugal, 2001; População estrangeira, 2001; Nascidos em Portugal e no estrangeiro, 2006; População estrangeira 2006; População com nacionalidade portuguesa, 2006; Nascidos no estrangeiro e em Portugal , Censo 2011, Censo 2016; Censo 2021; United Nations Statistics Division (2017), United Nations Statistics Division (2019) and United Nations Statistics Division (other data) (the UN figures are estimates).

A.1.1 Residents born in Portugal by sex, 2000-2021

(indivíduos)

Years	All foreign-born	Female		Male
Years	N	N	% of total	N	% of total
2021	133,700	68,265	51.1	65,435	49.0
2020	150,166	76,816	51.2	73,350	48.8
2019	148,513	75,971	51.2	72,542	48.8
2017	161,055	82,046	51.0	79,009	49.1
2016	143,160	72,970	51.0	70,190	49.0
2015	138,589	70,894	51.2	67,695	48.8
2011	140,315	71,490	51.0	68,825	49.1
2010	138,520	70,566	51.0	67,954	49.1
2005	141,057	72,565	51.4	68,492	48.6
2000	154,283	79,855	51.8	74,428	48.2

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 24/11/2022

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Metadata

Note Data obtained by sampling (about 25% of the total population).
The totals in this table may not correspond to those in table "A.1 Resident population by place of birth" due to source rounding issues.

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Statistics Canada, 2011 Census, 2016 Census, 2021 Census; United Nations Statistics Division (2017), United Nations Statistics Division (2019) and United Nations Statistics Division (other data) (the UN figures are estimates).

A.1.2 Residents born in Portugal by age group, 2011-2021

(Individuals)

Years	All foreign-born	< 15		15-39		40-64		> 65
Years	N	N	% of total	N	% of total	N	% of total	N	% of total
2021	133,695	1,175	0.9	21,117	15.8	55,758	41.7	55,645	41.6
2016	143,155	1,520	1.1	16,462	11.5	76,778	53.6	48,395	33.8
2011	140,305	860	0.6	21,537	15.4	79,393	56.6	38,515	27.5

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 26/10/2022

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Metadata

Note Data obtained by sampling (about 25% of the total population).
In 2011 and 2016 a homogeneous distribution was assumed in the 35-44 group to match the groups used and the groups made available in Statistics of Canada. In 2021 a homogeneous distribution in the 25-54 group was assumed to match the groups used and the groups made available in Statistics of Canada.
The totals in this table may not correspond to those in table "A.1 Resident population by place of birth" due to source rounding issues.

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Statistics Canada, 2011 Census, 2016 Census, 2021 Census.

A.2 Foreign population, 1996-2021

(Individuals)

Years	Total Population		All foreign-born
	Total Population		All foreign-born			Foreigners with Portuguese citizenship
	N	Change in	N	% of total	Change in	N	% of total	As a % of all foreigners	Change in
2021	36,328,475	-3.8	3,185,250	8.8	..	24,270	0.1	0.3	..
2020	37,742,157	0.9	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
2019	37,411,047	2.2	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
2017	36,624,199	6.3	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
2016	34,460,060	-4.4	2,425,190	7.0	..	25,855	0.1	0.3	..
2015	36,026,668	9.7	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
2011	32,852,325	-3.8	1,957,015	6.0	..	23,765	0.1	0.3	..
2010	34,147,566	9.3	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
2006	31,241,030	-2.9	1,760,865	5.6	..	57,075	0.2	0.9	..
2005	32,164,313	7.2	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
2001	30,007,095	-1.9	1,370,005	4.6	..	..	..	..	..
2000	30,588,379	6.0	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
1996	28,846,761	..	1,543,285	5.4	..	..	..	..	..

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 24/11/2022

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Metadata

Note Data obtained by sampling (about 20% of the total population). The data for 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 were reviewed by the UN and amended by OEm on 24/11/2022.

A.2.1 Resident population with Portuguese citizenship by sex, 2006-2021

(Individuals)

Years	All foreign-born	Female		Male
Years	N	N	% of total	N	% of total
2021	24,275	11,400	47.0	12,875	53.0
2016	25,855	12,565	48.6	13,290	51.4
2011	23,765	12,070	50.8	11,695	49.2
2006	57,080	29,130	51.0	27,950	49.0

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 26/10/2022

Chart

Metadata

Note Data obtained by sampling (about 25% of the total population).
The totals in this table may not correspond to those in table "A.2 Foreign population" due to source rounding issues.

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Statistics Canada, 2006 Census, 2011 Census, 2016 Census, 2021 Census.

A.2.2 Resident population with Portuguese citizenship by age group, 2011-2021

(Individuals)

Years	All foreign-born	< 15		15-39		40-64		> 65
Years	N	N	% of total	N	% of total	N	% of total	N	% of total
2021	24,265	750	3.1	7,172	29.6	12,003	49.5	4,340	17.9
2016	25,855	965	3.7	6,472	25.0	13,518	52.3	4,900	19.0
2011	23,760	475	2.0	6,190	26.1	12,705	53.5	4,390	18.5

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 26/10/2022

Chart

Metadata

Note Data obtained by sampling (about 25% of the total population).
In 2011 and 2016 a homogeneous distribution was assumed in the 35-44 group to match the groups used and the groups made available in Statistics of Canada. In 2021 a homogeneous distribution in the 25-54 group was assumed to match the groups used and the groups made available in Statistics of Canada.
The totals in this table may not correspond to those in table "A.2 Foreign population" due to source rounding issues.

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Statistics Canada, 2011 Census, 2016 Census, 2021 Census.

A.3 Consular registrations, 2008-2021

(Individuals)

Years	All registrations		Registrations by migrants born in Portugal			Registrations by migrants with Portuguese citizenship
Years	N	Change in	N	% of total	Change in	N	% of total	Change in
2021	186,065	-1.5	..	..	..	..	..	..
2020	188,826	4.0	..	..	..	..	..	..
2019	181,645	34.2	..	..	..	..	..	..
2018	135,301	-0.3	..	..	..	..	..	..
2017	135,678	-3.0	..	..	..	..	..	..
2016	139,924	-41.3	..	..	..	..	..	..
2015	238,369	-3.3	..	..	..	..	..	..
2014	246,432	63.1	..	..	..	..	..	..
2013	151,087	12.8	..	..	..	..	..	..
2012	133,954	1.1	103,653	77.4	2.1	115,786	86.4	1.9
2011	132,467	1.4	101,519	76.6	-1.1	113,649	85.8	-11.2
2010	130,607	3.2	102,603	78.6	2.3	128,052	98.0	3.2
2009	126,612	12.5	100,296	79.2	10.4	124,082	98.0	12.8
2008	112,552	..	90,819	80.7	..	110,054	97.8	..

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 27/10/2022

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Metadata

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Portuguese consulates abroad and Consular Management System (DGACCP), values granted under request.

A.4 Foreign inflows, 2000-2021

(Individuals)

Years	Total inflows		Portuguese inflows
Years	N	Change in	N	% of total	Change in
2021	406,005	120.0	890	0.2	61.8
2020	184,590	-45.9	550	0.3	-35.7
2019	341,175	6.3	855	0.3	-1.2
2018	321,055	12.1	865	0.3	9.5
2017	286,510	-3.3	790	0.3	-7.6
2016	296,370	9.0	855	0.3	3.0
2015	271,840	4.4	830	0.3	30.3
2014	260,297	0.5	637	0.2	1.1
2013	259,033	0.5	630	0.2	12.5
2012	257,763	3.6	560	0.2	6.1
2011	248,702	-11.4	528	0.2	-16.1
2010	280,690	11.3	629	0.2	1.1
2009	252,170	2.0	622	0.2	-6.3
2008	247,243	4.4	664	0.3	64.8
2007	236,762	-5.9	403	0.2	-4.7
2006	251,649	-4.0	423	0.2	25.2
2005	262,246	11.2	338	0.1	0.6
2004	235,858	6.5	336	0.2	2.1
2003	221,396	-3.4	329	0.2	-9.1
2002	229,123	-8.6	362	0.2	-31.8
2001	250,656	10.2	531	0.2	13.5
2000	227,470	..	468	0.2	..

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 18/07/2022

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Metadata

Note data from 2008 to 2017 was revised in 2018 by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Permanent Resident Admissions, Permanent resident admissions by source country.

A.5 Acquisition of citizenship of the destination country, 2000-2020

(Individuals)

Years	Acquisition of citizenship by all foreigners		Acquisition of citizenship by Portuguese
Years	N	Change in	N	% of total	Change in
2020	110,835	-55.7	279	0.3	-57.3
2019	250,151	41.8	653	0.3	135.7
2018	176,470	66.8	277	0.2	16.9
2017	105,813	-28.2	237	0.2	-58.7
2016	147,267	-41.4	574	0.4	-30.2
2015	251,144	-3.1	822	0.3	-44.4
2014	259,274	103.4	1,477	0.6	70.8
2013	127,470	13.9	865	0.7	4.6
2012	111,923	-37.6	827	0.7	-22.6
2011	179,451	25.0	1,068	0.6	-9.0
2010	143,579	-8.2	1,174	0.8	-11.1
2009	156,363	-11.5	1,321	0.8	-2.9
2008	176,617	-11.6	1,361	0.8	-20.9
2007	199,894	-23.4	1,720	0.9	-27.3
2006	260,838	31.2	2,365	0.9	6.4
2005	198,773	2.4	2,222	1.1	2.0
2004	194,130	24.8	2,178	1.1	77.2
2003	155,535	10.3	1,229	0.8	-12.6
2002	140,967	-15.8	1,407	1.0	-50.2
2001	167,353	-22.0	2,824	1.7	26.6
2000	214,568	..	2,230	1.0	..

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 06/10/2020

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Metadata

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from OCDE, Data by Theme, Demography and Population – Migration Statistics, International Migration Database.

A.6 Remittances, 2000-2021

(Euros, thousands)

Years	Inward flows (thousand euros) (a)		Outward flows (thousand euros) (b)		Balance (a/b)
Years	N	Change in	N	Change in	Balance (a/b)
2021	27,850	26.6	4,000	60.0	7
2020	21,990	1.8	2,500	41.2	9
2019	21,610	0.5	1,770	-4.3	12
2018	21,510	-16.0	1,850	-11.1	12
2017	25,610	-18.4	2,080	-8.4	12
2016	31,400	-3.4	2,270	4.1	14
2015	32,490	-48.3	2,180	10.1	15
2014	62,890	47.0	1,980	-42.6	32
2013	42,790	-6.8	3,450	-14.4	12
2012	45,900	14.1	4,030	19.6	11
2011	40,220	-13.0	3,370	27.6	12
2010	46,250	10.5	2,640	15.3	18
2009	41,870	-26.2	2,290	-31.4	18
2008	56,760	-25.7	3,340	-34.1	17
2007	76,410	11.6	5,070	-16.1	15
2006	68,490	-6.6	6,040	-5.0	11
2005	73,300	-0.9	6,360	2.1	12
2004	73,950	-11.1	6,230	-9.4	12
2003	83,160	-8.7	6,880	-24.7	12
2002	91,100	-20.6	9,140	-5.6	10
2001	114,680	-21.3	9,680	115.6	12
2000	145,740	..	4,490	..	32

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 21/02/2022

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Metadata

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Banco de Portugal, BP stat, Estatísticas de balança de pagamentos, Remessas de emigrantes/imigrantes.

B. Census

B.1 Resident population by census and nationality, according to country of birth, 2011-2022

(indivíduos)

Nationality	Total Population		Foreign-born		Born in Portugal
Nationality	N	%	N	%	N	%
2021/2022
Total Population	36,328,480	100.0	9,606,600	100.0	133,695	100.0
Nationality of the destination country	33,143,230	91.2	6,421,855	66.8	109,425	81.8
Foreign nationality	3,185,250	8.8	3,184,745	33.2	24,270	18.2
2016/2017
Total Population	34,460,065	100.0	8,219,550	100.0	143,160	100.0
Nationality of the destination country	32,034,585	93.0	5,794,360	70.5	117,305	81.9
Foreign nationality	2,425,480	7.0	2,425,190	29.5	25,855	18.1
2011/2012
Total Population	32,852,320	100.0	7,217,295	100.0	140,315	100.0
Nationality of the destination country	30,895,305	94.0	5,261,105	72.9	116,550	83.1
Foreign nationality	1,957,015	6.0	1,956,190	27.1	23,765	16.9

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 24/11/2022

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Metadata

B.2 Resident population by census and sex, according to country of birth, 2011-2022

(indivíduos)

By sex	Total Population		Foreign-born		Born in Portugal
By sex	N	%	N	%	N	%
2021/2022
Total Population	36,328,475	100.0	9,606,595	100	133,700	100
Female	18,391,315	50.6	4,974,695	51.8	68,265	51.1
Male	17,937,160	49.4	4,631,900	48.2	65,435	49.0
2016/2017
Total Population	34,460,060	100.0	8,219,560	100	143,160	100
Female	17,488,485	50.8	4,283,510	52.1	72,970	51.0
Male	16,971,575	49.2	3,936,050	47.9	70,190	49.0
2011/2012
Total Population	32,852,325	100.0	7,217,295	100	140,315	100
Female	16,689,210	50.8	3,763,070	52.1	71,490	51.0
Male	16,163,115	49.2	3,454,225	47.9	68,825	49.1

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 24/11/2022

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Metadata

B.3 Resident population by census and age group, according to country of birth, 2011-2022

(indivíduos)

By age group	Total Population		Foreign-born		Born in Portugal
By age group	N	%	N	%	N	%
2021/2022
Total Population	36,328,480	100.0	9,606,600	24.9	133,695	0.4
-15 Years	5,992,560	16.5	552,915	5.8	1,175	0.9
15-39 Years	11,384,007	31.3	3,288,007	34.2	21,117	15.8
40-64 Years	12,365,313	34.0	3,753,838	39.1	55,758	41.7
65+ Years	6,586,600	18.1	2,011,840	21.0	55,645	41.6
2016/2017
Total Population	34,460,071	100.0	8,219,546	22.5	143,156	0.4
-15 Years	5,817,050	16.9	481,530	5.9	1,520	1.1
15-39 Years	11,062,188	32.1	2,657,353	32.3	16,463	11.5
40-64 Years	12,100,923	35.1	3,379,093	41.1	76,778	53.6
65+ Years	5,479,910	15.9	1,701,570	20.7	48,395	33.8
2011/2012
Total Population	32,852,326	100.0	7,217,306	20.6	140,306	0.4
-15 Years	5,592,800	17.0	439,930	6.1	860	0.6
15-39 Years	10,848,733	33.0	2,324,633	32.2	21,538	15.4
40-64 Years	11,859,258	36.1	3,080,558	42.7	79,393	56.6
65+ Years	4,551,535	13.9	1,372,185	19.0	38,515	27.5

[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable; [ e ]EstimateLast update: 24/11/2022

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Metadata

Blogs and websites from Portuguese abroad

Home

The Participation of Portuguese emigrants in the elections
[A participação dos emigrantes portugueses nas eleições]

Broad comparative perspective of Portuguese migration

Portuguese Associations Abroad

Resources

Bibliography

(2016), La langue et son parcours dans le temps et dans l’espace : La « communauté portugaise » à Montréal, Cahiers de l´URMIS, ,

Videography

João Sardinha; António João Saraiva (2,012), Regressa Urgente (Return Urgent), 52, Portugal , Canadá, N eel Naik - Ra Atelier, (Documentário)

Research Center

CERIS – The Ontario Metropolis Centre

SAMP – Southern African Migration Project

Metropolis Canada

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