N.B. population rises as StatsCan revises estimates that showed decline

Latest figures put province's population at 883,522 as of July 1

Statistics Canada estimates New Brunswick's population is continuing to grow after previous figures showed declines.

Estimates released Wednesday show 883,522 people living in the province on July 1, up 4,973 from April 1.

The agency also revised its estimates going back five years. The revision turned a decline of 3,185 people between July 2025 and April 2026 into an increase of 3,838.

Stacey Hallman, an analyst at Statistics Canada, said in an interview the agency routinely revises its estimates, and this change was larger due to using new data sources.

Hallman said data from the Canada Border Services Agency led to changes in the numbers for non-permanent residents that accounts for whether those with expired permits have left the country. The category that includes international students.

As well, estimates were adjusted based on permanent-resident permit extensions.

"So we may be seeing positive growth where in the past we have released a negative growth number," Hallman said.

In New Brunswick, the population estimates continue to show more deaths than births. Growth was in part due to people moving to New Brunswick from elsewhere in Canada but mainly due to international migration.

"The largest sources of growth in New Brunswick tend to be international migration and the largest parts of international migration are permanent immigrants and non-permanent residents," Hallman said.

Nationally, the data released Wednesday shows population growth across the country slowing due to changes in federal immigration policy after several years of significant population growth.

N.B. population sees highest quarterly decline in decades, economist says

850,000 — and counting. New Brunswick's population numbers continue to rise

In New Brunswick, the revision changes what appeared to be the end of the province's pandemic boom into continued growth.

It's a change that Richard Saillant, a Moncton-based economist and author, said matters for the province's economy, housing and budgets. Population is a factor in federal transfer payments.

"From a financial standpoint, this is hopefully positive news," Saillant said in an interview.

Saillant said when it appeared the population was shrinking, it meant housing availability and affordability could improve. Instead, ongoing growth could again put more pressure on housing.

Saillant said he expects, based on federal immigration targets, to see the province's population continue to record growth of about one per cent annually.

"There's a lot at stake obviously, and it goes to public finances, but also the stress on public services," Saillant said.

"So the type of growth that we saw over the last quarter would be a completely different regime than what we've seen over the previous two quarters. So it matters tremendously."

Most N.B. universities see drop in international enrolment for 2nd year in a row

N.B. cities getting denser as they respond to population growth

Statistics Canada's population estimates are released every three months, which provides national and provincial figures. Data for individual municipalities and metro areas is released annually, usually in January.

More precise figures are expected when the agency releases census data.

Shane Magee is a Moncton-based reporter for CBC News.