Fresh out of Barnard College with a degree in political science, Riley is learning the ropes as a writer and reporter for GZERO. When she isn’t writing about global politics, you can find her making GZERO’s crossword puzzles, conducting research on American politics, or persisting in her lifelong quest to learn French. Riley spends her time outside of work grilling, dancing, and wearing many hats (both literally and figuratively).
Canada’s population is booming, and a huge portion of that growth is being fueled by record-high immigration. The Trudeau government aims to grant permanent residency to 465,000 people in 2023 and raise that number to 500,000 people a year by 2025 – betting that immigration can spur economic growth and support its aging population. This commitment to immigration is why Canada is the fastest-growing G7 country, even as its peers brace for population contractions.
Meanwhile, across the border in the US, immigration is a much more polarizing issue. But contrary to what many on the right think, immigration numbers have declined under President Joe Biden.
We compare immigration in the US and Canada over the last two decades.