A new Statistics Canada study has revealed a striking demographic trend in British Columbia: nearly half of all babies born in the province last year were delivered by mothers who were born outside of Canada. This finding underscores the crucial role immigration plays in sustaining British Columbia's population amid a steadily declining birthrate among Canadian-born residents.
Immigration's Vital Role in Population Sustainability
The comprehensive Statistics Canada analysis examined birth patterns across the country between 1997 and 2024, uncovering that 42 percent of Canadian newborns during this period had foreign-born mothers. This proportion has nearly doubled over the past quarter-century, reflecting shifting demographic patterns nationwide.
In British Columbia and Ontario, this trend was even more pronounced. Both provinces saw 48.7 percent of babies born in 2024 delivered by immigrant mothers. The study further determined that without the contribution of foreign-born individuals to the birthrate, Canada would have experienced more deaths than births since 2022.
Affordability Crisis Impacts Fertility Decisions
Despite the significant contribution of immigrant mothers to British Columbia's birth numbers, experts caution that new arrivals quickly adopt the fertility patterns of Canadian-born residents. University of B.C. professor emeritus David Ley pointed to affordability concerns as a primary factor influencing reproductive decisions.
"I'm sure these factors are at play in Metro Vancouver," stated Ley, referencing studies from other regions with very low fertility rates like Singapore and Hong Kong. "Women may want children, but affordability costs — notably, but not only housing — delay the arrival of children. And the later the time of first birth, the fewer children are born."
The data supports this analysis, showing that births to Canadian-born mothers in British Columbia have decreased by 27 percent over the years covered by the study.
Broader Demographic Context and Future Projections
The Statistics Canada report arrives alongside other recent demographic data showing British Columbia was the only province where population decreased in the second quarter of this year, dropping by approximately 2,100 people between April and June. This follows a smaller decline of 299 people during the first months of 2025.
British Columbia currently has the lowest birthrate in Canada at just 1.02 children per woman in 2024. However, University of B.C. business professor Werner Antweiler suggests that population forecasts for the province remain positive over the long term despite recent adjustments to immigration policy that have led to temporary residents departing as their work and study permits expire.
"Population decline is not as worrisome as some would want to make us believe," Antweiler commented. "The question is really more about the speed of change. Rapid changes would be economically disruptive, but not so much a manageable rate of population decline."
The Statistics Canada study highlights the complex interplay between immigration patterns, economic factors, and demographic trends that will continue to shape British Columbia's population landscape in the coming years.
