A record number of Canadians fled the country in 2025 but Quebec is not following the trend

Canadians love to travel, but now, more of them aren't returning home. Instead, a growing number are packing up and leaving the country for good.

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, emigration hit an all-time high in 2024 with more than 118,000 people moving abroad, and 2025 is already on track to break that record.

Between January and June of this year alone, 54,530 people left Canada, the most ever recorded in the first half of a calendar year. Historically, departures climb even higher in the second half of the year, which means the final 2025 total could end up being the country's biggest yet.

Who's actually leaving?

Not every province is contributing equally to this record-breaking outflow.

British Columbia is leading the pack, with over 12,000 people leaving in the first half of 2025. That makes up more than 22% of the national total despite the province accounting for less than 14% of Canada's population.

However, Ontario, Canada's most populated province, still supplies the biggest share overall, with more than 25,000 departures in the same period.

Alberta, which saw a surge last year, has slowed down in 2025, accounting for just under 11.5% of emigrants, slightly below its population share.

Quebec tells a different story

Quebec, on the other hand, isn't following the trend. Despite being home to over 21% of Canada's population, the province only accounted for about 12.5% of emigrants so far this year. That’s a much lower share than expected, especially compared to Ontario and B.C., where residents are leaving at above-average rates.

The StatCan data doesn't explain why, but a few factors could be at play. Quebec's major cities have a lower cost of living compared to Toronto or Vancouver, which may be keeping more residents anchored. The province also benefits from a strong cultural identity and language ties that make moving abroad feel like a bigger leap.

Newfoundland and Labrador, however, make up the smallest share of Canadian emigration, with only 118 residents leaving in the first half of the year.

Will this trend continue?

Rising prices, housing challenges, and economic jitters could all play a part in what's driving more Canadians to look beyond the border. Everyone has their own reasons, but the pattern is clear: more and more people think life might be easier somewhere else.

If the trend keeps up, 2025 could go down as the year Canada sees its biggest wave of goodbyes yet.

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